Poorer Air Quality Impacts Twin Cities Metro

MINNEAPOLIS — Warming weather and foggy conditions are making for worse air quality than what Minnesotans are typically used to in January.

The air quality has fallen from "good" into the "moderate" zone for most of Minnesota, according to state and federal air quality officials.

"If you are unusually sensitive to particle pollution, consider reducing your activity level or shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors," officials with the U.S. Air Quality Index state.

The poor air quality is expected to last for the next three days in the metro. Conditions are expected to clear up by Saturday.

Here's the specific NWS forecast from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport:

Wednesday: Patchy drizzle or freezing drizzle before 10am. Patchy fog between 11am and 1pm. Widespread freezing fog before 11am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 37. South wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of rain or freezing rain after 2am. Areas of fog between 4am and 5am. Areas of freezing fog before 4am, then areas of freezing fog after 5am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 32. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday: A slight chance of rain or freezing rain before 11am, then a slight chance of rain. Areas of fog after 10am. Areas of freezing fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 37. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night: Cloudy, with a low around 31. Calm wind becoming north northwest around 5 mph.

Friday: Cloudy, with a high near 39. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. South southwest wind around 10 mph.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 42. West wind around 10 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. West wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. West wind around 10 mph.