Hot, Toxic Air Over Minnesota Monday: Here's How To Stay Safe

ST. PAUL, MN — A widespread Air Quality Alert has been issued for much of Minnesota on Monday, with state officials warning that pollution levels could become unhealthy for children and other sensitive groups during the hot and sunny afternoon hours.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Orange category, meaning children, seniors, people with asthma or heart disease, and anyone active outdoors may experience health effects from the elevated ozone levels.

The alert is in effect from noon to 9 p.m. and includes the Twin Cities metro and most of central and southern Minnesota, including cities like St. Cloud, Mankato, and Alexandria.

Temperatures are expected to again approach 90 degrees on Monday.

Why is the air dangerous? And how to stay safe.

Hot weather, low humidity, and sunshine are triggering the formation of ground-level ozone, a pollutant that forms when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in the sun.

Ozone levels will peak during the afternoon and early evening, when the sun is strongest and temperatures are highest.

Those in sensitive groups should avoid prolonged outdoor activity, particularly between noon and sunset.

"Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors, should limit prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion," the NWS said.

"Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible."

Also in effect: Red Flag Warning and Hazardous Weather Outlook

The National Weather Service has also issued a Red Flag Warning from noon to 9 p.m. Monday, citing critical fire conditions across central and southern Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin.

• Temps in the 80s and 90s
• Humidity as low as 15 percent
• Winds gusting up to 30 mph

Together, those conditions could lead to fast-spreading wildfires. Officials are urging the public to avoid all outdoor burning and to report any signs of smoke or flames immediately.

A Hazardous Weather Outlook remains in effect through Tuesday, with elevated fire danger expected to continue as hot, dry, and breezy conditions persist.

Affected Areas

More than 60 counties are impacted by these alerts, including:

• Metro: Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Dakota, Washington, Scott, Carver
• Central MN: Stearns, Sherburne, Wright, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Benton
• Southern MN: Blue Earth, Nicollet, Rice, Goodhue, Waseca, Steele
• Western WI: St. Croix, Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Polk, Rusk

What You Can Do

• Sensitive individuals should stay indoors during peak ozone hours.
• Limit driving, idling, and gas-powered lawn tools to reduce emissions.
• Avoid burning anything outdoors, including campfires or yard debris.

More alerts may follow if conditions worsen on Tuesday.

Here's the full NWS forecast from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 62. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Southeast wind around 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: Showers likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 61. West northwest wind around 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63. North northeast wind around 10 mph.