Minnesota faces air quality alert throughout Monday
As wildfires continue to rage in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, northern Minnesota is currently experiencing unhealthy air quality conditions due to ground-level smoke from these blazes. This smoke, pushed into the state by northerly and northwesterly winds associated with high-pressure systems over southern Canada, has led to an air quality alert being in effect for the entire state of Minnesota until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 13, 2025.
Key details on the current and expected air quality:
- Air quality has reached the red AQI (Air Quality Index) category (unhealthy for everyone) in parts of northern Minnesota as of early August, with dense smoke affecting areas such as Detroit Lakes, Brainerd, and Hinckley by August 12.
- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued and extended air quality alerts multiple times, with the most recent indicating impacts through Wednesday, August 13, in northern Minnesota.
- The smoke tends to remain at the surface because the high-pressure system traps it close to the ground, worsening local air quality.
- The northern Minnesota region is expected to continue experiencing lingering smoke and unhealthy air conditions at least through mid-week (August 13), with some improvement forecast to begin Wednesday evening as winds shift and the smoke starts to disperse.
- Southeast Minnesota’s air quality alert is expected to clear by the afternoon of August 12, but northern areas will see smoke persistence and associated impacts for a longer duration.
In addition to the air quality concerns, the weather forecast for the coming days in Minnesota offers some relief. Dew points on Monday in Minnesota will dip slightly, and highs on Monday will be in the mid-80s. However, Tuesday and Wednesday in Minnesota will bring much lower humidity. Storms are predicted for both Tuesday night in northern Minnesota and Wednesday in the Twin Cities, with the Twin Cities' next chance for rain expected on Wednesday. Humidity returns in Minnesota on Thursday.
The MPCA predicts that the smoke should begin dispersing from west to east on Monday evening into Tuesday morning, with the northern half of Minnesota expected to experience the worst air quality. The Twin Cities may see some improvement in air quality as the week progresses, but northern areas are predicted to experience the smoke persisting for a longer duration.
Sources: 1. https://www.wcco.com/weather/minnesota-weather/air-quality-alert-extended-for-northern-minnesota-through-wednesday/ 2. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/08/12/smoke-from-canadian-wildfires-continues-to-impact-minnesotas-air-quality 3. https://www.startribune.com/smoke-from-canadian-wildfires-spreads-across-northern-minnesota/600205711/ 4. https://www.mndnr.gov/air/air-quality/smoke-forecast
- In addition to the ongoing air quality concerns caused by wildfire smoke in northern Minnesota, the local weather forecast suggests some relief, with dew points dipping slightly on Monday and lower humidity expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Amidst the persisting unhealthy air quality conditions throughout northern Minnesota, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has also highlighted the potential for science and environmental-science research to better understand and combat smoke impacts during wildfire events.
