Poor air quality expected across North Dakota this weekend
Bismarck, North Dakota — Sunday, June 1, 2025, 8:00 a.m. (ET) — State officials in North Dakota are issuing a serious air quality warning for the upcoming weekend, urging residents across the entire state to stay indoors as much as possible. According to the Department of Environmental Quality, wildfire smoke drifting south from Canada is expected to significantly impact air quality starting early Saturday morning and continuing through Sunday.
Ryan Mills, who manages the Ambient Air Monitoring Program, confirmed that the incoming haze is becoming more than just a seasonal nuisance: “This has kind of become the norm,” he explained. He warned that dense concentrations of particulate matter will affect both urban centers and rural regions, pushing AQI (Air Quality Index) levels into ranges that could affect everyone’s health, not just individuals with existing respiratory conditions.
Itchy eyes, chest tightness, coughing, and breathing difficulty are among the symptoms linked to exposure to this kind of fine particulate pollution. Dr. Housam Alasaly, an allergist with Sanford Health, emphasized the challenges of complete protection. “There are certain situations where you cannot protect yourself,” he said, highlighting how daily routines often force people outdoors, even when air quality deteriorates.
To determine local conditions, residents are encouraged to visit airnow.gov, where the AQI provides a real-time snapshot of health risks related to airborne contaminants. As AQI values increase, so does the severity of potential health impacts — and not just for those with asthma, COPD, or cardiac disease. Health providers have observed a notable uptick in ER visits during previous smoke events.
North Dakota Health and Human Services recommends the following precautions if you can see or smell smoke in your area: remain inside, close all windows and doors, use air conditioning with recirculation mode, and limit physical exertion outdoors. In vehicles, keep vents shut and AC set to recirculate to avoid drawing in outside smoke.
