Blue sky returns to Minnesota Monday, air quality alert starts Tuesday

The Land of Sky Blue Waters is back.

It’s a classic summery day across Minnesota. The sun is bright, temperatures are warm, and the sky is finally back to a shade of trademark Minnesota blue.

The thick plumes of wildfire smoke that have plagued our skies the past few weeks have dissipated. Southerly winds are blowing residual smoke from Alberta wildfires back northward into Canada. And smoke plumes from newer fires in Ontario are also being pushed away from Minnesota.

Because the is little smoke aloft over Minnesota to scatter sunlight today, our skies have returned to a pleasant shade of summer blue.

Good air quality Monday

Air quality here on the ground in Minnesota is in the good to the moderate range this Juneteenth.

Air quality alert starts Tuesday

And though we’ll see little wildfire smoke over Minnesota this week, sunlight and warm temperatures mean ground-level ozone will increase. The MPCA has issued an air quality alert for higher levels of ozone starting Tuesday.

Air quality alert issued due to ozone for Tuesday, June 20, through Thursday, June 22, for central and southern Minn.

Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI category in central and southern Minn., which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

 The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for central and southern Minn., effective from noon on Tuesday, June 20, through 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 22. The affected area includes central and southern Minn., and the tribal nations of Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, Upper Sioux, and Prairie Island.

Ground-level ozone is expected to be high during the afternoon hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday across central and southern Minn. Sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity will create an environment favorable for two types of pollutants (Volatile Organic Compounds and Nitrogen Oxides) to react in the air to produce ground-level ozone. These pollutants will be transported by southerly winds from the Chicago area, northeast Iowa, and southeast Minn. Ozone will be highest during the afternoon and early evening hours when sunshine is most abundant, and temperatures are highest. Ozone will be low in the morning, late evening, and overnight.

 Ozone levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across central and southern Minn. The alert area includes the Twin Cities, Brainerd, Alexandria, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Rochester, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Ortonville, Mankato, and the tribal nations of Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, Upper Sioux, and Prairie Island. In the orange area, sensitive groups should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

 

People whose health is affected by unhealthy air quality: There are people who are more likely to be affected when ozone pollution reaches an unhealthy level.

·        People who have asthma or other breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.

·        Children and teenagers.

·        People of all ages who are doing extended or heavy, physical activity like playing sports or working outdoors.

·        Some healthy people who are more sensitive to ozone even though they have none of the risk factors. There may be a genetic base for this increased sensitivity.

 Health effects: Unhealthy ozone levels can aggravate lung diseases like asthma, emphysema, and COPD. When the air quality is unhealthy, people with these conditions may experience symptoms like difficulty breathing deeply, shortness of breath, throat soreness, wheezing, coughing, or unusual fatigue. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, use your inhalers as directed and contact your health care provider.

 Take Precautions: Everyone should take precautions when the air quality is unhealthy.

·        Take it easy and listen to your body.

·        Limit, change, or postpone your physical activity.

·        If possible, stay away from local sources of air pollution like busy roads and wood fires.

·        If you have asthma, or other breathing conditions like COPD, make sure you have your relief/rescue inhaler with you.

·        People with asthma should review and follow guidance in their written asthma action plan. Make an appointment to see your health provider if you don’t have an asthma action plan. 

So enjoy our Monday blue skies. But ozone levels will increase during our hot and increasingly humid week.