Air quality alert issued due to wildfire smoke for Thursday, Aug. 17, through Friday, Aug. 18, for all of Minn.
Aug 17, 2023 09:05AM ● By Content Editor
From the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - August 17, 2023
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for all of Minn. The alert takes effect at midnight on Thursday, Aug. 17, and runs until 11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 18. The affected area includes the Twin Cities metro, Brainerd, Alexandria, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Rochester, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Winona, Ortonville, Mankato, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the tribal nations of Upper Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, Red Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac.
Heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in the Northwest Territories of Canada is moving south across central Canada and towards Minn. on Wednesday. A strong cold front will bring this smoke across the entire state on Thursday. Smoke will reach the border around midnight on Thursday, the Twin Cities around noon, and southern Minn. by 3 p.m. This smoke will be heavy and air quality may reach the Red (Unhealthy) AQI category for much of eastern Minn. Smoke will linger across the eastern half of the state on Friday and fine particle levels will continue to be high for most of the day. Winds will become southerly Friday afternoon and smoke will begin to retreat away from Minn. and disperse. Air quality should improve below alert levels by late Friday.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across northeast and east central Minn. This area includes the Twin Cities metro, Brainerd, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Bemidji, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the tribal nations of Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, Red Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac. In the red area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and limit time spent outdoors. Everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across western and southern Minn.. This area includes Alexandria, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Rochester, Winona, Ortonville, Mankato, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, and the tribal nation of Upper Sioux. In the orange area, sensitive groups should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.
What this alert means
Air moves long distances and carries pollutants. During air quality alerts due to wildfires, the air is mixed with harmful smoke. Wildfire smoke spreads or lingers depending on the size of the fires, the wind, and the weather.
The air quality index (AQI) is color-coded. Air quality alerts are issued when the AQI is forecast to reach an unhealthy level, which includes forecasts in the orange, red, purple, and maroon categories. For a full description of each air quality category, visit airnow.gov.
Red air quality: Unhealthy
Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the red AQI category due to wildfires, the sky may look smoky. The air will look hazy, and you won’t be able to see long distances. You may smell smoke.
Health effects: This air is unhealthy for everyone. Anyone may begin to experience symptoms such as irritated eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. Sensitive or more exposed individuals may experience more serious health effects, including worsening of existing heart or lung disease and respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, possibly leading to an asthma attack, heart attack, or stroke.
What to do: Reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, and avoid intense activities to reduce exposure. Sensitive and more exposed individuals should avoid prolonged or vigorous activities and consider shortening, rescheduling, or moving outdoor events inside.
Orange air quality: Unhealthy for sensitive groups
Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the orange AQI category due to wildfires, the sky may look hazy and residents may smell smoke even when wildfires are far away.
Health effects: This air is unhealthy for sensitive groups and pollution may aggravate heart and lung disease as well as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Symptoms may include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and fatigue.
What to do: People in sensitive groups are encouraged to reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, or do less intense activities to reduce their exposure. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plan and keep their rescue inhaler nearby.
Who’s most at risk
Poor air quality impacts health. Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can irritate eyes, nose, and throat, and cause coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fatigue. Smoke particles are small enough that they can be breathed deeply into lungs and enter the bloodstream. This can lead to illnesses such as bronchitis or aggravate existing chronic heart and lung diseases, triggering heart palpitations, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and strokes.
Certain groups experience health effects from unhealthy air quality sooner than others, either because they are more sensitive to fine particle pollution or because they are exposed to larger amounts of it.
Sensitive groups include:
- People who have asthma or other breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- People who have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
- Pregnant people.
- Children and older adults.
People with increased exposure include:
- People of all ages who do longer or more vigorous physical activity outdoors.
- People who work outdoors, especially workers who do heavy manual labor.
- People who exercise or play sports outdoors, including children.
- People who don’t have air conditioning and need to keep windows open to stay cool.
- People in housing not tight enough to keep unhealthy air out, or who do not have permanent shelter.
Anyone experiencing health effects related to poor air quality should contact their health care provider. Those with severe symptoms, chest pain, trouble breathing, or who fear they may be experiencing a heart attack or stroke should call 911 immediately.
Take precautions
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.
Stay informed
- Visit MPCA’s Air Quality Index webpage for information on current air quality conditions in your area.
- Sign up for daily air quality forecasts and alert notifications though EnviroFlash.
- Download the EPA AirNow mobile app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
- Visit the MPCA's Air quality and health webpage for information about health and indoor and outdoor air quality and how to prevent air pollution.
- Visit the Minnesota Department of Health wildfire smoke webpage for actions you can take to protect your health against wildfire smoke.
