Minnesota Issues Air Quality Alert Wildfire Smoke Spreads

A widespread air quality alert is in effect across much of Minnesota through Friday, July 17, as smoke from numerous wildfires in the northern part of the state and Canada blankets the region, combining with a dangerous heat wave to create hazardous conditions. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued the alert, which began at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14, and covers the Twin Cities metro area and numerous other communities.

The smoke originates from large wildfires burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Arrowhead region, fueled by lightning strikes and extremely dry conditions. Authorities have indefinitely closed the Boundary Waters, where more than 20 fires are active, and evacuations are underway. At least 17 people have been rescued, with no injuries reported.

A frontal boundary is rapidly pushing the smoke southward. Very heavy smoke inundated northeastern Minnesota on Tuesday and is expected to spread across northern and central parts of the state by early Wednesday, reaching the Twin Cities and southeastern Minnesota by Wednesday evening. Additional rounds of heavy smoke are forecast from Thursday through Friday morning.