We already know there's an Air Quality Alert for all of Minnesota through later in the day Saturday. But this bad? You can actually taste the smoke from Canadian wildfires in Minnesota.
That real-time air quality is tracked by the World Air Quality Index and for part of the day Wednesday, Minneapolis had the second worst air of any major city on the planet, trailing only Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. And just ahead of Dubai, UAE. This is not the company you want to keep obviously.
Minneapolis had an Air Quality Index of 146 which is "unhealthy." But it was not the worse - or even close to the worst - in Minnesota.
That honor went all the way up the North Shore of Lake Superior to the Arrowhead towns of Grand Marais and Grand Portage. The Air Quality Index in those two areas topped 230 at times Wednesday, which is nearly like standing in the middle of those forest fires burning out of control in Canada.
There were similar numbers on the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Penninsula.
Take it easy out there. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency officials and medical officials WCCO Radio talked to Wednesday say that the air can be extremely dangerous for those in sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, may experience health effects.
Anyone working or exercising outdoors needs to be aware of any coughing, breathing issues, itchy eyes and other symptoms.
AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 5PM SATURDAY
* 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...West central, east central, central, south central, southeast, north central, northwest, southwest, and northeast Minnesota.
* WHEN...Now until 5 PM CDT Saturday.
* 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...Northerly winds will continue transporting waves of heavy surface smoke from wildfires across Manitoba and Saskatchewan into Minnesota. Smoke will move south across all of Minnesota and linger through Saturday afternoon. The smoke will be reinforced by an area of high pressure that will create light winds and limit the dispersion of smoke. Therefore the air quality alert has been expanded to include all of Minnesota and extended until Saturday afternoon when the air quality is forecasted to improve.