Minneapolis, Minnesota – Smoke from Canadian wildfires is choking much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin this weekend, pushing air quality to “very unhealthy” levels in cities like St. Cloud, Duluth, and Minneapolis through at least Sunday night.
According to the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities, an air quality alert remains in effect until 9 a.m. Monday as fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke blankets the region. Much of central and northern Minnesota, including Bemidji, Ely, and Grand Rapids, is experiencing the worst conditions, marked in purple on the official hazard map.
Residents in affected areas are urged to avoid strenuous outdoor activity, especially those with asthma, heart conditions, or compromised immune systems. The air quality index (AQI) ranges from 151–200 in many cities—levels that can cause headaches, fatigue, coughing, and difficulty breathing, even in healthy individuals…