Aitkin, MN Weather Alerts

* 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...Northeastern and north central Minnesota.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight 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, children, and older
adults, may experience health effects.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in
the Northwest Territories of Canada is moving south across
central Canada and towards Minnesota on Wednesday. A strong cold
front will bring this smoke across the entire state on Thursday.
Smoke will reach the Canadian border around midnight Thursday,
the Twin Cities around noon, and southern Minnesota by 3 PM.
This smoke may be heavy and air quality may reach the Red
(Unhealthy) AQI category for much of eastern Minnesota with
several hours of smoke concentrations in the Purple (Very
Unhealthy) AQI category possible. Smoke will linger across the
eastern half of the state on Friday and fine particle levels
will continue to be high for most of the day. Winds will become
southerly Friday afternoon and smoke will begin to retreat away
from the state and disperse. Air quality should improve below
alert levels by the end of the day on Friday.

* 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 Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive
Groups category.

* WHERE...Much of northeast Minnesota and all of east-central and
north-central Minnesota.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM CDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease
(including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults,
may experience health effects.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in
the Northwest Territories of Canada has reached northwest
Minnesota Thurday morning. Strong northwest winds will bring this
smoke into central Minnesota by Thursday afternoon. Smoke levels
are lower than expected and the alert has been downgraded to
Orange for the alert area. Smoke will linger linger across the
alert area through Friday afternoon. Smoke will continue to
disperse as it retreats away from the state. Air quality should
improve below alert levels by late Friday.

* 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 Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive
Groups category.

* WHERE...Much of northeast Minnesota and all of east-central and
north-central Minnesota.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM CDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease
(including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults,
may experience health effects.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in
the Northwest Territories of Canada reached northwest Minnesota
Thursday morning. Strong northwest winds are bringing this smoke
into north-central Minnesota this afternoon. Smoke will linger
across the alert area through Friday afternoon. Smoke will
continue to disperse as it retreats away from the state. Air
quality should improve below alert levels by late Friday.