{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.c819dfa8f8fc51cc2d8b843db970ee396ac7c138.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 15 at 9:46PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-15","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.c819dfa8f8fc51cc2d8b843db970ee396ac7c138.001.1","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":318,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 15 at 9:46PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN\n\n**Severity:** Unknown\n**Certainty:** Unknown\n**Urgency:** Unknown\n**Areas:** Douglas; Todd; Morrison; Mille Lacs; Kanabec; Pope; Stearns; Benton; Sherburne; Isanti; Chisago; Kandiyohi; Meeker; Wright; Hennepin; Anoka; Ramsey; Washington; McLeod; Sibley; Carver; Scott; Dakota; Le Sueur; Rice; Goodhue\n**Issued by:** NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN\n**Sent:** 2026-07-15T21:46:00-05:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-15T21:46:00-05:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-17T11:00:00-05:00\n\n## Description\nMNZ041>045-048>053-057>063-066>070-076>078-171600-\nAnoka-Benton-Carver-Chisago-Dakota-Douglas-Goodhue-Hennepin-\nIsanti-Kanabec-Kandiyohi-Le Sueur-McLeod-Meeker-Mille Lacs-\nMorrison-Pope-Ramsey-Rice-Scott-Sherburne-Sibley-Stearns-Todd-\nWashington-Wright-\nIncluding the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs and Prairie Island\nIncluding the cities of Alexandria, Apple Valley, Blaine,\nBloomington, Brooklyn Park, Buffalo, Burnsville, Eagan, Eden\nPrairie, Farmington, Hastings, Maple Grove, Minneapolis,\nMinnetonka, Northfield, Plymouth, Prior Lake, Ramsey, Rogers,\nRosemount, Roseville, Shakopee, St. Cloud, St. Louis Park, St.\nPaul, Stillwater, Waconia, White Bear Lake, and Woodbury\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 Maroon or Hazardous category.\n\n* WHERE...Central Minnesota including the Twin Cities.\n\n* WHEN...Until 11 AM CDT Friday.\n\n* IMPACTS...Everyone is likely to be affected by wildfire smoke\nin these concentrations. Minor trace amounts of ashfall are\nlikely and have been observed with the dense smoke.\n\n* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... Dense smoke is causing observed\nMaroon/Hazardous conditions across central Minnesota. Hourly\nobservations have already surpassed previous hourly records for\nthe Twin Cities, and additional record readings are possible\novernight. Smoke will gradually retreat northward and disperse,\nbut is expected to remain in alert-level concentrations until at\nleast Friday.\n\n## Instructions\nSensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including\nasthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, should\nremain indoors and keep activity levels low. The general public\nshould avoid all physical activities outdoors.\n\nKeep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting\nindoors.\n\nReduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution,\nsuch as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning\ndevices."}