{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.52bb6c4491f2fda5cb884bea413c72b497f2e19d.002.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 6:54AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-16","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.52bb6c4491f2fda5cb884bea413c72b497f2e19d.002.1","accession_number":null,"cik":null,"ticker":null,"issuer_name":null,"edgar_url":null,"primary_entity_key":null,"primary_entity_name":"NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN"},"word_count":282,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 6:54AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN\n\n**Severity:** Unknown\n**Certainty:** Unknown\n**Urgency:** Unknown\n**Areas:** Stevens; Swift; Chippewa; Renville; Nicollet; Blue Earth; Waseca; Steele\n**Issued by:** NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN\n**Sent:** 2026-07-16T06:54:00-05:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-16T06:54:00-05:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-17T11:00:00-05:00\n\n## Description\nMNZ047-055-056-065-075-083>085-171600-\nBlue Earth-Chippewa-Nicollet-Renville-Steele-Stevens-Swift-Waseca-\nIncluding the Tribal Nation of Upper Sioux\nIncluding the city of Mankato\n\n...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM CDT FRIDAY...\n\n* WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air\nQuality Alert for fine particles pollution. The Air Quality Index\n(AQI) is expected to reach the Red or Unhealthy category.\n\n* WHERE...Portions of central Minnesota.\n\n* WHEN...Until 11 AM CDT Friday.\n\n* IMPACTS...Some members of the general public may experience\nhealth effects. Sensitive groups, such as people with lung\ndisease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older\nadults, may experience health effects.\n\n* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Dense smoke is being pulled by a quasi-\nstationary front across southern Minnesota. Smoke has settled\nacross the Minnesota River Valley and little additional southward\nmovement is forecasted today. There continues to be a sharp\ngradient of smoke, with some areas of the same counties\nexperiencing Good/Green air quality while other experience\nRed/Unhealthy for All conditions. Conditions will gradually\nimprove by Friday morning as the front slowly retreats northward.\n\n## Instructions\nSensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including\nasthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, should\navoid prolonged or heavy exertion. The general public should\nlimit prolonged or heavy exertion.\n\nReduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution,\nsuch as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning\ndevices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as\npossible.\n\nKeep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting\nindoors."}