Minnesota Air Quality Alert Extended For ‘Unprecedented’ Event

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St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has decided to extend an air-quality alert for the entire state because of what it is describing as an unprecedented air-quality event.

The new alert runs through next Tuesday at 12 noon as smoke from wildfires and Canada continues to linger over the state. While parts of Minnesota enjoyed a modest improvement in particulate pollution levels today, southerly winds on Saturday are expected to push additional smoke from the wildfires into the state, and due to recirculation resulting from a high-pressure center, there could be a prolonged period of heavy smoke.

As of Friday afternoon, southeastern and northeastern Minnesota were experiencing moderate particulate pollution, while conditions considered unhealthy for sensitive groups were found in south-central Minnesota, and the western half of the state had levels that are unhealthy for everyone. By Sunday, conditions unhealthy for everyone are expected to be present in Rochester and many other parts of the state, while areas of north-central and south-central Minnesota could see levels rated as very unhealthy for everyone.

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