MARSHALL — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for southwest Minnesota, in effect from 12 a.m. Thursday through 11 p.m. Friday. The alert is due to elevated levels of fine particle pollution, with the Air Quality Index expected to reach the orange category, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Smoke from wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba is drifting into Minnesota and will affect air quality across much of the state. In southwest Minnesota, the smoke is expected to arrive Thursday morning and persist through Friday.
Sensitive individuals, including people with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults, and children, are advised to limit prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Officials also recommend reducing activities that contribute to air pollution, keeping windows closed overnight, and limiting vehicle use and idling.
Air quality is expected to improve gradually from south to north on Friday as winds shift. Conditions are forecast to return to safer levels by Friday evening.
