Air Quality Alert: 'Areas Of Smoke' So Bad, It Will Keep Temp Low

TWIN CITIES, MN — Smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues to impact the air in Minnesota. The state Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for much of Minnesota — including all of the counties in the Twin Cities metro area — through 6 a.m. Thursday.

"Areas of smoke" will impact weather all Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service said. The smoky air is so bad, it will keep the temperature down Wednesday due to cloud cover.

A heatwave in Minnesota will begin Thursday.

"Cloudy skies today will hold highs below 90, likely for the last time in July for much of Minnesota," the NWS said.

"Our best shot at seeing rain looks to come Friday night, but otherwise, our dry weather pattern looks to continue, with drought conditions likely to worsen."

Here's the full NWS forecast for the Twin Cities metro area:

Wednesday: Areas of smoke. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South southeast wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Widespread haze before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: A slight chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 95. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am, then a slight chance of showers between 10am and 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 95. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 68. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Light north northwest wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 92. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.