* WHAT. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particles pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Red or Unhealthy category. * WHERE. Northwest Minnesota. * WHEN. From 6 AM CDT Wednesday to 11 PM CDT Friday. * IMPACTS. Some members of the general public may experience health effects. Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, may experience health effects. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS. A band of heavy smoke from wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba is moving south across southern Manitoba and will reach northwest Minnesota by early Wednesday morning. A stationary front will remain over the northern part of the state for most of the day Wednesday, which will keep ground-level smoke confined to the northwest corner of the state. The front will move east and exit the region overnight and by Thursday morning northwest winds will be widespread across the state. This will allow smoke to move quickly southeast and smoke will reach northeast, central, and southwest Minnesota by Thursday afternoon. The alert will likely need to be expanded for Thursday. Air quality impacts will continue through Friday. Winds will become southerly Friday, which will push the smoke back to the north. Air quality should improve gradually from south to north beginning Friday afternoon.
