Here’s When The Next Batch Of Canadian Smoke Will Hit Twin Cities

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A statewide air quality alert is now in effect through Friday night as thick smoke from wildfires in Canada blankets much of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro.

Both the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) warn that pollution levels will reach the unhealthy category for some people.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the metro is forecast to exceed 100 on Thursday and Friday, reaching the orange level: unhealthy for sensitive groups. These include people with asthma, lung or heart conditions, children, older adults, and those who work or exercise outdoors.

The alert is in effect from 12 a.m. Thursday through 11 p.m. Friday across a wide area of central and southern Minnesota.

More than 50 counties are covered, including Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Washington, Anoka, and Carver, as well as the Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, and Upper Sioux Tribal Nations.

What’s Happening

A band of wildfire smoke from Saskatchewan and Manitoba began moving into northwest Minnesota on Wednesday. That smoke is spreading southeast across the state on Thursday and will linger into Friday.

According to the NWS, smoke will reach east-central and southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, by Thursday afternoon.

Winds will become southerly Friday, slowly pushing the smoke back north. Cleaner air is expected to gradually return Friday evening into Saturday.

Forecast For Twin Cities

• Thursday, July 24: AQI 112, Unhealthy for sensitive groups due to fine particle pollution.
• Friday, July 25: Continued unhealthy levels, and the general public may begin to feel the effects.
• Saturday, July 26: Conditions improve to moderate as smoke lifts north.

Health Guidance

• Sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
• Everyone is advised to limit vehicle idling and outdoor burning and keep windows closed overnight.
• Watch for symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, or fatigue.

Affected Cities Include:

Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Cloud, Mankato, Bloomington, Plymouth, Eden Prairie, Apple Valley, Maple Grove, Shakopee, Woodbury, Stillwater, and more.

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

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. North northwest wind around 5 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1am and 4am, then a slight chance of showers after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers before 7am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7am and 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 10 mph.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 90. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.