Air quality alert issued through Monday morning for Minnesota
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued another air quality alert over the weekend into the start of the work week.
The agency first issued the alert Saturday for eastern and central Minnesota before expanding it Sunday to include parts of southern and northeastern Minnesota.
The alert is in effect through 11 a.m. Monday. Impacted areas include the Twin Cities, Albert Lea, Rochester, Winona, Mankato, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, and the tribal nations of Prairie Island, Grand Portage and Fond du Lac.
The MPCA says that heavy smoke from wildfires in the northeast will persist through Monday morning. While winds are expected to help improve the air quality starting Sunday afternoon, additional heavy smoke from the south is forecasted to move in Sunday evening.
According to the MPCA, the air quality index will reach red, which is unhealthy for everyone. The MPCA encourages people to limit their time outdoors.
