Baudette, MN Severe Weather Alertstar_ratehome

...AIR QUALITY ALERT NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT THURSDAY...

* 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...Northeast Minnesota.

* WHEN...Until 4 PM CDT Thursday.

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

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires in the
Superior National Forest of northeast Minnesota remain active and
will continue to produce heavy ground-level smoke through Thursday.
Winds have shifted to southeasterly on Wednesday and will push the
smoke plumes northwest. The smoke plumes will impact portions of St.
Louis, Itasca, and Koochiching counties through Thursday afternoon.
Over the next couple of days, higher humidity and increased cloud
cover should inhibit fire growth and intensity. Smoke is not expected
to be as heavy as previous days. A strong low pressure system will
move into the state on Thursday and bring showers and thunderstorms
to northeast Minnesota by Thursday afternoon. This should decrease
fire activity and improve air quality.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including
asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, 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.

...NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY FOR KOOCHICHING
COUNTY...

Dry conditions will lead to near critical fire weather
conditions today. Minimum relative humidity values of 20 to 25
percent are expected. These conditions could lead to the rapid
spread of fires. Check burning restrictions and fire danger before
burning.

For more information on burning restrictions for Minnesota, see
www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html.