BISMARCK, North Dakota — As wildfires continue to burn across Canada, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality is warning residents that smoke from those fires is expected to drift into the state in the coming days, potentially leading to hazardous air quality conditions.
Forecasts show that shifting wind patterns could bring smoke into multiple areas of North Dakota, creating unhealthy breathing conditions, particularly for people with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory illnesses. Officials are urging the public to limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities when smoke is visible or when air quality levels drop.
The department recommends using AirNow.gov or its mobile app to check real-time air quality conditions in your area. Because smoke concentrations can change quickly, the situation remains highly variable — air may clear temporarily, then become polluted again within hours.
“Use common sense when air quality is poor,” the department advised, emphasizing that individuals should make decisions based on both the Air Quality Index (AQI) and their personal health status.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for Friday, covering the northwestern part of Minnesota. Conditions are expected to reach the purple AQI category, which signals very unhealthy air. The first wave of smoke will move across northern Minnesota during the day Friday, with another plume arriving by Friday evening in the northwest. According to the latest forecast, air quality may begin to improve by Sunday afternoon.
With wildfire smoke continuing to affect large portions of the Upper Midwest, residents across North Dakota and Minnesota are being reminded to stay informed and take precautions as needed.
