Air Quality Alert
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
556 AEUS73 KFGF 171632 AQAFGF Air Quality Alert Message Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Relayed by National Weather Service Fargo/Grand Forks ND 1007 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026 MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-172300- 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 1007 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026 ...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particles pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Red or Unhealthy category. * WHERE...East central, west central, north central, northwest, and central Minnesota. * WHEN...Until 6 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...While heavy smoke retreats across portions of north central and northeastern Minnesota today, heavy smoke is expected to persist across much of northeastern Minnesota through the weekend and into Monday. A separate area of heavy smoke will move across northwestern Minnesota this morning and afternoon. Northwestern Minnesota should see improved air quality by this evening. Additional heavy smoke may move south from Canada this weekend, and the air quality alert may need to be extended into east central and southeastern Minnesota. 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. Poor air quality can impact pets and animals. More information regarding pet and animal safety can be found at https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-06/protect- your-pets-factsheet.pdf and https://www.avma.org/resources/pet- owners/emergencycare/wildfire-smoke-and-animals. $$ MPCA