ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for western and southern Minnesota that started at noon Saturday and runs until 11 p.m. Sunday.
The alert covers the Twin Cities metro area, Brainerd, Alexandria, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Rochester, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Winona, Ortonville, Mankato, East Grand Forks and Moorhead. It also includes the Tribal Nations of Upper Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake and White Earth.
Ground-level ozone is expected to be high Saturday and Sunday afternoon across much of Minnesota. Mostly sunny skies, warm temperatures and low humidity will create a favorable environment for two types of pollutants — volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides — to react with sunlight in the air to produce ground-level ozone, according to the agency…