Air Quality Alert
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
563 AEUS73 KFGF 232040 AQAFGF Air Quality Alert Message Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Relayed by National Weather Service Fargo/Grand Forks ND 307 PM CDT Wed Jul 23 2025 MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-260400- Clay-East Becker-East Marshall-East Otter Tail-East Polk-Grant- Hubbard-Kittson-Lake of the Woods-Mahnomen-Norman-North Beltrami- North Clearwater-Pennington-Red Lake-Roseau-South Beltrami-South Clearwater-Wadena-West Becker-West Marshall-West Otter Tail-West Polk-Wilkin- Including the Tribal Nations of Leech Lake, Red Lake, and White Earth Including the cities of Bemidji, Crookston, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, and Roseau 307 PM CDT Wed Jul 23 2025 ...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particulate pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Red or Unhealthy category. * WHERE...Northwest Minnesota. * WHEN...Until 11 PM CDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Some members of the general public may experience health effects. Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, may experience health effects. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A band of heavy smoke from wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba is moving south across northwest Minnesota on Wednesday. The smoke will remain over the northwest part of the state through the end of Wednesday, but by Thursday morning the smoke will reach southwest MN. Smoke will also move into the northeast and central portions of the state Thursday morning, and by Thursday afternoon smoke will reach east central and south central MN. Some uncertainty still remains regarding how far south the ground-level smoke will reach by Friday morning, when winds are expected to become southerly and push the smoke back to the north. Air quality should improve gradually from south to north beginning Friday afternoon, with improvement in fine particle levels below the alert threshold expected by the end of Friday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. The general public should limit prolonged or heavy exertion. 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. Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors. && For information on current air quality conditions in your area and to sign up for daily air quality forecasts and alert notifications by email, text message, phone, or the EPA AirNow mobile app, visit https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/current-air- quality-conditions. You can find additional information about health and air quality at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land- climate/air-quality-and-health. $$