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Air quality alert issued due to wildfire smoke for Friday, Aug. 16 through Sunday, Aug. 18 for northwest Minnesota
Air quality is expected to reach the red AQI category, which is unhealthy for everyone, in northwest Minnesota
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for northwest Minnesota. The alert takes effect 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16 and runs until 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18. The affected area includes East Grand Forks and Moorhead.
Heavy ground-level smoke is expected to move into northwest Minnesota on Friday afternoon. Northerly winds behind a strong low pressure system will pull smoke south across the Red River Valley. Smoke will reach the border around 3 p.m. and arrive at the Fargo/Moorhead area around 6 p.m. Friday. Northerly winds will persist for several days, and additional smoke is expected to move into northern Minnesota Saturday afternoon. The alert area may need to be expanded to account for additional areas that might be impacted by heavy smoke. Smoke will initially produce air quality in the Red (Unhealthy) AQI category Friday afternoon, but levels may improve to the Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) category on Saturday. Smoke will linger until at least Sunday, as light northerly winds are expected to continue until Monday.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the Red Air Quality Index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across northwest Minnesota. This area includes East Grand Forks and Moorhead. In the red area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and limit time spent outdoors. Everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.
MDH sends these air quality alert messages only once a day, unless the air quality worsens.
Air quality can change quickly, so be sure to check current air quality conditions.
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What this alert means
Air moves long distances and carries pollutants. During air quality alerts due to wildfires, the air is mixed with harmful smoke. Wildfire smoke spreads or lingers depending on the size of the fires, the wind, and the weather.
The air quality index (AQI) is color-coded. Air quality alerts are issued when the AQI is forecast to reach an unhealthy level, which includes forecasts in the orange, red, purple, and maroon categories. For a full description of each air quality category, visit airnow.gov.
Red air quality: Unhealthy
Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the red AQI category due to wildfires, the sky may look smoky. The air will look hazy and you won’t be able to see long distances. You may smell smoke.
Health effects: This air is unhealthy for everyone. Anyone may begin to experience symptoms such as irritated eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. Sensitive or more exposed individuals may experience more serious health effects, including worsening of existing heart or lung disease and respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, possibly leading to an asthma attack, heart attack, or stroke.
What to do: Reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, and avoid intense activities to reduce exposure. Sensitive and more exposed individuals should avoid prolonged or vigorous activities and consider shortening, rescheduling, or moving outdoor events inside.
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Poor air quality impacts health. Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can irritate eyes, nose, and throat, and cause coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fatigue. Smoke particles are small enough that they can be breathed deeply into lungs and enter the bloodstream. This can lead to illnesses such as bronchitis or aggravate existing chronic heart and lung diseases, triggering heart palpitations, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and strokes.
Certain groups experience health effects from unhealthy air quality sooner than others, either because they are more sensitive to fine particle pollution or because they are exposed to larger amounts of it.
Sensitive groups include:
- People who have asthma or other breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- People who have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes
- Pregnant people
- Children and older adults
People with increased exposure include:
- People of all ages who do longer or more vigorous physical activity outdoors
- People who work outdoors, especially workers who do heavy manual labor
- People who exercise or play sports outdoors, including children
- People who don’t have air conditioning and need to keep windows open to stay cool
- People in housing not tight enough to keep unhealthy air out, or who do not have permanent shelter.
Anyone experiencing health effects related to poor air quality should contact their health care provider. Those with severe symptoms, chest pain, trouble breathing, or who fear they may be experiencing a heart attack or stroke should call 911 immediately.
Take precautions
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 to ensure outside smoke does not enter you home.
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