Air Quality Alert extended through Friday for east-central, southeast Minnesota
Credit: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
(ABC 6 News) – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has extended the Air Quality Alert through Friday for east-central and southeast Minnesota due to high ozone levels.
The alert will remain active through 9:00 p.m. Friday for an area stretching from Alexandria east to Hinckley and south to the Iowa state line.
MPCA officials say ozone will be highest during the afternoon and early evening hours when sunshine is most abundant, and temperatures are highest. A low pressure system will arrive over the weekend to bring an end to the high ozone concentrations.
Unlike other air quality alerts issued this month, this advisory is not linked to Canadian wildfire smoke. Rather, the pollutants are expected to be carried on the wind from Chicago, Iowa and southeastern Minnesota.
Air quality levels are expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. That includes people with asthma or other breathing conditions; children and teenagers; and anyone doing extended outdoor physical activity, either labor or exercise.
Those whose health may be impacted are advised to limit prolonged outdoor activity, avoid pollution sources like roads or wood fires, and keep an emergency inhaler on hand, if applicable.
Symptoms may include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and fatigue.
Information on current air quality conditions is available, HERE.