Latest news with #MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency
NDTV
7 days ago
- Climate
- NDTV
Smoke From Canada's Wildfires Triggers Health Scare In US
As Canada battles its second-worst wildfire season on record, thick clouds of smoke drifted across the border, blanketing parts of the Midwest and Northeast US. Skies turned hazy, compromising the visibility. Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota experienced concerning levels of air pollution this weekend. Parts of Illinois and Indiana were also under air quality alerts, with authorities urging people to stay indoors or limit time spent outdoors, NPR reported. In the Northeast, states including New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are seeing smoke-related pollution, and officials warned residents against venturing outdoors. The way wind moves through the atmosphere is making smoke from Canada's wildfires travel to the US, National Weather Service Lead Forecaster Bob Oravec told NPR. The wind is blowing at many levels of the atmosphere, and in many cases, it's blowing in the same direction, he said. As the wildfire smoke rises, it gets caught in these winds and is carried along, just like how a leaf gets blown by the wind, he explained. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) on Friday announced the statewide air quality alert and mentioned it would remain in effect until Monday, August 4, at noon. The smoke is expected to reach New York City on Monday, NBC reported. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the region is currently between 101 and 150, which falls under the 'Orange' category. According to the Pollution Control Board, this level of air pollution is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Those at higher risk are senior citizens above 65, children under the age of 14, people with respiratory conditions such as asthma or bronchitis, and pregnant women. The smoke from Canada's hundreds of wildfires is the primary cause of the pollution. This marks the state's longest air quality alert since 2008, according to Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). The entire duration of the alert is likely to be seven days. The country has recorded almost 4,000 wildfires already this year.
CBS News
7 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Smoke moving out of Minnesota Monday as heat and humidity encroach
The air quality in Minnesota will continue to improve on Monday as wildfire smoke moves out of the state. An air quality alert that lasted a record six days across the state has been canceled, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. At times, Minneapolis' air quality was among the worst in any of the world's major cities. As the smoke moves out, expect highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s and light winds. Most of eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin will stay dry and partly sunny. Spotty showers and isolated storms will continue across western and central Minnesota, with rainfall totals of up to half an inch possible in spots. Tuesday will be drier, then heat and storm chances return midweek.
Forbes
02-08-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Air Quality Plummets In Minneapolis And Chicago Amid Canadian Wildfires
Hundreds of fires are burning across Canada as of Saturday, with smoke from the blazes worsening air quality in the Midwest, ranking Chicago and Minneapolis among the world's most polluted cities. Air quality alerts have been issued across most of the Midwest, and hundreds of wildfires are burning across Canada. Star Tribune via Getty Images Air quality advisories have been issued in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Michigan, as each state warned Canadian wildfires would make the air 'unhealthy' for sensitive groups, or people with preexisting conditions like asthma, heart or lung disease. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency warned of worsening air quality across the northeastern section of the state, with the highest levels of 'unhealthy' readings near Duluth, Hibbing and around Minneapolis. An air quality advisory will remain in effect in Wisconsin through Saturday, officials said, noting conditions could continue to worsen through Sunday as wildfire smoke potentially moves farther south. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency said air pollution and air quality alerts are in effect in and around Chicago as wildfire smoke 'remains in the region,' as officials warned those with preexisting conditions should reduce exposure by shortening the amount of time spent outdoors. Minneapolis ranks as the third-most polluted major city in the world, according to the global air quality tracker IQAir. The city's level of PM 2.5—airborne particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter—stood at 134 as of Saturday morning, ranking the city ahead of Doha, Qatar, and behind Kolkata, India, and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the most-polluted cities. Chicago ranks as the ninth-most polluted city, with a PM 2.5 level of 105. Minneapolis briefly became the world's most polluted city in 2024 following another series of Canadian wildfires. Tangent Fire weather alerts have been issued in parts of Utah and Colorado, where the National Weather Service warned of high winds and lower humidity. The Monroe Canyon Fire in Utah has burned more than 55,000 acres and is only 5% contained as of Saturday, as state officials have issued evacuation orders for surrounding areas. Other fire weather alerts were issued for parts of Hawaii amid drier weather and wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour. There are more than 700 active wildfires across Canada as of Saturday, with most of the blazes occurring in British Columbia, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, according to Canadian fire officials. About 216 of the fires are considered to be 'out of control,' while 151 are under control and 284 are being monitored. Wildfires in Canada have burned more than 6.6 million hectares this year so far, accounting for an area nearly the size of Missouri. Wildfires hit a record-breaking pace in Canada in 2023, when New York City was blanketed in an orange haze. Republican lawmakers in the U.S. have criticized Canada's wildfire preparedness, with some penning a letter to Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., implying that a 'lack of active forest management' worsened the wildfires. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew accused the Republicans of being 'ambulance chasers' and suggested they support American firefighters sent to combat the blazes. Further Reading Forbes New York City's Air Quality Falls Among World's Worst As Canadian Wildfire Smoke Blankets Northeast By Zachary Folk
CBS News
02-08-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Smoky skies persist across Minnesota Saturday
Wildfire smoke will persist across Minnesota on Saturday, creating hazy sunshine and poor air quality as we kick off the weekend. An air quality alert has been extended through Monday at noon. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has the latest AQI forecasts on its website. According to IQAir, Minneapolis' air quality on Saturday morning is ranked as the third-worst among the world's major cities. Only Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kolkata, India, have worse AQI levels. Despite the air. Saturday will be comfortable with seasonal temperatures as afternoon highs climb to near 80 degrees. As high pressure shifts east, winds will turn more southerly Sunday, helping to gradually clear out some of the smoke by Monday. With some energy aloft, a few showers are expected across western Minnesota, but the Twin Cities stay dry. Clouds pick up a little more, knocking high temps back a touch into the upper 70s. The metro will notice more humidity into next week, helping to turn the forecast a bit more active with several waves of energy sparking storm chances. Spotty showers are anticipated Sunday night into Monday. Temps warm through the week and reach the upper 80s by Thursday and Friday.
CBS News
01-08-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Air quality in Minneapolis ranks 2nd worst in the world Friday morning, with alerts stretching another day
The state of Minnesota is entering another in a long string of summer days marred by air quality alerts. Poor air quality will continue through Saturday with lingering wildfire smoke from Canada. WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames says that the upside is that unseasonably pleasant temperatures have moved in, and will stick around, with highs in the 70s and low humidity. That may be small consolation, as the air quality alert will remain in effect through 5 p.m. on Saturday, with smoke from Canadian wildfires keeping air quality index levels in the unhealthy categories. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has the latest AQI forecasts on its website. According to IQAir, Minneapolis' air quality at the start of the Friday workday ranked as the second-worst among the world's major cities on Thursday afternoon. Only Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo had worse AQI levels. This is one of the longest air quality alerts on record, tying with those issued for St. Louis County during the Greenwood fire in 2021, according to the agency. Dames says our nights remain cool, with lows in the 50s and some patchy morning fog. A few weak systems pass to our west early next week, with low rain chances limited to far western Minnesota. Expect a llight warmup and increased humidity possible by the end of next week, with another chance for rain.
