Smoke from Canadian wildfires has rolled back into Minnesota, prompting the state’s Pollution Control Agency to issue an air quality alert covering the entire state until 11 p.m. Friday.
Air on Friday morning has reached unhealthy levels for all people in an area stretching from the Twin Cities to Duluth and from St. Cloud to Alexandria.
“The sky may look smoky. The air will look hazy, and you won’t be able to see long distances. You may smell smoke,” the MPCA said.
But the bigger concern is that people with lung disease, heart disease and asthma, and children and older adults may suffer health problems, the National Weather Service said.
Air quality on Friday morning was in the unhealthy range for those with health troubles in an area from Brainerd to Ely to International Falls, according to the MPCA.
Air quality across Minnesota should improve gradually from south to north beginning Friday afternoon, the Weather Service said.
The Weather Service recommends people refrain from activities that increase air pollution, including outdoor burning and driving.
