MN Air Quality Index
@mpca_aqi
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Daily Air Quality Index information for Minnesota from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency This account is unmonitored.
Joined February 2009
Air quality alert has been issued for all of MN until 11pm Friday. Smoke concentrations in the Red (Unhealthy for All) AQI category are expected across E MN + Orange(Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) across W MN. In these concentrations expect to be able to see/smell smoke. #mnwx
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Finally - lots of questions on the source. Yes this is all from Canadian wildfires - mostly in Ontario. There is a wildfire burning in the BWCA that is still small and hasn't had a smoke plume large enough for transport. Watching that carefully.
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We've gotten a lot of questions today about a manure odor. This odor is from manure applied as fertilizer on fields across southern MN. The strong WSW winds are pushing the odor northward. Despite the odor, observed air quality remains in the Green (Good) category. #mnwx.
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As of the 6pm obs the Minneapolis - Near Road (near 94 and 35W) station has logged an average ozone AQI of 151 (86ppb) which is Red/Unhealthy for All. This is the first time we have observed Red from ozone inside the Twin Cities proper. Air quality alert remains in effect. #MNwx.
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Also one last stat - the 220.9 µg/m3 (AQI 271) at 7pm in St. Paul appears to be the highest reading in our record from Minneapolis or St. Paul. Again St. Michael is higher - but in the Twin Cities proper this appears to be the highest. May beat that still tonight.
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Also a note on the AQI - its a 24 hour midnight to midnight calculation. Our forecasts represent that 24 hours - and days like today that start in the Yellow and end in the Purple categories can be tough. Overall we will end up in the Red - but still a lot of impacts this evening.
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Statewide forecast for tomorrow, June 15. Air quality alert in effect until Friday at 6 a.m. Smoke will move into southern MN. Air quality will improve across northern MN. More info at
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Note that this is not the highest daily AQI in MN. That remains 259 (209 µg/m3) from Red Lake Nation on July 20th, 2021. The highest hourly Twin Cities Metro reading is 308 (258 µg/m3) at St. Michael on July 29th, 2021.
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Smoke progressing into eastern Minnesota. Several hours of Unhealthy air quality are expected, then gradual improvement.
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@ClearBlueSky89 Hello - masks won't protect against ozone. Since ozone is on a molecular level no masks will fully protect you from it. That's why we advise taking it easy outdoors today, especially if you have underlying pulmonary issues.
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Statewide forecast for July 5 - Green (Good). July 6 - Green (Good) statewide.
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2023 is now officially the busiest year the AQI forecast team has ever had. Here are the final numbers of alerts issued. #MNwx.
2023 will go down in history as the year Minnesotans checked the weather, and the air quality index, before leaving the house. We issued a record number of red alerts in response to air pollution from carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
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An air quality alert continues until 3pm for most of MN. During the past week we have gotten a lot of questions about smoke models and how we forecast. This morning is a great example of why we don't just use the models. Hopefully it sheds a bit of light on how we forecast! #AQI
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Statewide forecast for July 6 - Green (Good). July 7 - Green (Good) statewide.
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We have gotten a lot of questions about how poor air quality can impact your pets. Here are some tips from the American Veterinary Medical Association
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Statewide forecast: June 7 Yellow (Moderate) most of Minnesota, Green (Good) for North Shore. June 8 Yellow across Minnesota. More info at:
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Wildfire smoke continues over Minnesota. Air quality index (AQI) values are in the Yellow (moderate) category in many locations. These conditions are being monitored for impacts on air quality by various meteorological/air quality data. #WildfireSmoke #MNwx
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MPCA has issued Air Quality Alert for today valid through 9 PM tonight. Wildfire smoke has helped contribute gaseous pollutants to aid in ground-level ozone production in addition to very warm temperatures under hazy but mostly sunny skies. #AirQualityAlert #MNwx
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Statewide forecast for the rest of today, May 13th (left) and tomorrow, May 14th (right). More info at
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The Blaine AQI sensor is erroneously reporting ozone concentrations in the Purple (Very Unhealthy) range. Crews are working on fixing the sensor but there is no estimated time of completion. Obs at nearby sites indicate the AQI is between Yellow (Moderate) and Green (Good).
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The total area burned from wildfires in Canada in 2023 so far: 44.2 million acres. The total area of Minnesota: 55.6 million acres.
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Yes it seems odd that there is a "hole" over Minneapolis and St. Paul. That is correct. The precursors to ozone mainly form in urban areas - but those precursors react with solar radiation and then fallout in the suburbs. 1/2.
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Some of you might have noticed that the Blaine sensor has been reporting Green (Good) ozone AQI this afternoon. That is erroneous. The sensor had an AC failure and our techs are working to repair it. Red (Unhealthy for All) AQI is likely occurring there based on surrounding obs.
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Statewide forecast for 6/28 (left) and 6/29 (right). An air quality alert will continue through the end of today. More info at
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Dust originating from the Sahara Desert (yes you read that right) is mixing down to the surface in S MN behind a warm front. This along with ozone forming in the afternoon heat will impact air quality. Those especially sensitive to air quality should limit outdoor exertion. #MNwx
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@Magk_Mary @NWSTwinCities There are two clusters of fires that produced the smoke that has reached MN (circled on the image below). This map is from the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (.
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The air quality alert has been cancelled for portions of central MN and extended until 6pm Sunday for southern MN. Another round of smoke is expected overnight and will clear gradually during the day Sunday. Keep windows closed overnight to keep smoke from getting indoors! #mnwx
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A few questions this morning - an air quality alert remains in effect through 9pm Thursday. Ozone needs solar radiation to form so there will be some temporary reductions early in the morning before ozone ramps up in the afternoon. 1/2.
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Forecast for Twin Cities, MN: Jun 15 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange), Jun 16 Moderate (Yellow).
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Statewide forecast for today, June 15 (left) and tomorrow, June 16 (right). The air quality alert continues for SW and south central MN until 6 a.m. tomorrow. Air quality will improve tomorrow. More info at
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@DavidEb03152097 You're right. As smoke travels away from the fire it oxidizes in the atmosphere. To our nose that transformation changes the smoke from the smell that we experience near a wood fire to one that many people describe as more of a burning plastic smell.
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Statewide forecast for July 7 - Green (Good). July 8 - Green (Good) statewide.
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Also - the source of this ozone is likely indirectly Canadian Wildfires still. The smoke is still hanging around - just in concentrations low enough to not warrant an alert. The Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) within that smoke is acting as the catalyst for ozone production.
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Statewide forecast for June 15. Air quality alert in effect until Friday at 6 a.m. More info at
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