Air Quality Alert

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-121500-
Clay-East Becker-East Marshall-East Otter Tail-East Polk-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 and Red Lake
Including the cities of Bemidji, Crookston, East Grand Forks,
Moorhead, and Roseau
940 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2024

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT THURSDAY...

* 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 Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive
Groups category.

* WHERE...North central, northwest, central, and west central
Minnesota.

* WHEN...Until 10 AM CDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease
(including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, may
experience health effects.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Smoke from numerous wildfires across the
Saskatchewan province in Canada is currently pushing into
northwestern Minnesota overnight Tuesday behind a cold front. The
cold front will stall over northwest Minnesota during Wednesday which
will cause the smoke to linger through the day Wednesday and into
Thursday morning. Air quality is expected to reach the Orange
(Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) AQI category across the alert area
during this time. Air quality should improve by Thursday morning as
easterly winds blow the smoke westward out of Minnesota.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including
asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, 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.

$$