Twin Cities Air Quality Alert Issued For Friday

TWIN CITIES, MN — The Twin Cities metro is expected to see unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups Friday, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

The MPCA forecast calls for ozone levels to reach 101 AQI on Friday, May 29, putting the Twin Cities in the orange category, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Particle pollution is expected to remain low, with a forecast of 33 AQI, which is considered good.

The air quality alert is in effect Friday afternoon. The MPCA said warmer air, mostly sunny skies, and enough solar radiation along the I-94 corridor could allow ozone to form at unhealthy levels.

There is some uncertainty in the forecast, depending on how much cloud cover develops over central Minnesota. In southwest Minnesota, thicker clouds are expected to limit ozone formation, but the Twin Cities metro is more likely to see enough sunlight for ozone levels to rise.

The MPCA said there is a greater than 50 percent chance that ozone may reach the orange category in the Twin Cities metro.

Sensitive groups include people with lung disease, including asthma, people with heart disease, children, older adults and people who are active outdoors. Those groups should limit prolonged outdoor exertion when air quality reaches the orange category.

The forecast for the next several days shows ozone levels staying in the moderate category:

Friday, May 29: Unhealthy for sensitive groups

Saturday, May 30: Moderate

Sunday, May 31: Moderate

Monday, June 1: Moderate

Tuesday, June 2: Moderate

Particle pollution is forecast to remain good through Tuesday. The MPCA said particulates remain low because of a quiet start to the Canada wildfire season.

The MPCA said air quality forecasts, like weather forecasts, are predictions and not measured conditions. Current air quality conditions are updated hourly, while forecasts are updated daily.