...AIR QUALITY ALERT NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT MONDAY... * 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, southwest, southeast, north central, northwest, and northeast Minnesota. * WHEN...Until noon CDT Monday. * 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...Surface high pressure will camp out over the region through Friday evening and will result in light winds and poor dispersion. Smoke with widespread red/unhealthy air quality index (AQI) concentrations will likely remain over most of the state through tonight and into the day Saturday. Winds will increase out of the south over the weekend as high pressure drifts east of the area. Smoke concentrations should gradually decline starting Saturday, but the clearing of the smoke may be slow with smoke spreading as far south as Tennessee and Missouri. Orange AQIs (unhealthy for sensitive groups) could hang on through Sunday and into the day Monday. Most of the alert-level smoke should push north back into Canada by later Monday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. The general public should limit prolonged or heavy exertion. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible. Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors. && For information on current air quality conditions in your area and to sign up for daily air quality forecasts and alert notifications by email, text message, phone, or the EPA AirNow mobile app, visit https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/current-air- quality-conditions. You can find additional information about health and air quality at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land- climate/air-quality-and-health.