Minneapolis residents are bracing for a haze-filled weekend as areas of smoke due to distant wildfires are forecasted to impact air quality in the region. According to the National Weather Service, the city will see mostly sunny skies with highs around 79 degrees today, but calm winds are expected to do little to disperse the smoke.
The outlook isn't set to improve quickly, with the NWS predicting "areas of smoke" will persist through Saturday. Residents may find some relief in the evenings as temperatures dip to the upper 50s and low 60s, though air quality concerns are likely to remain a constant companion over the weekend. Officials have not yet activated SKYWARN spotters, signaling no immediate severe weather threat beyond the anticipated poor air quality.
The Hazardous Weather Outlook issued by the NWS early this morning warns that, "Poor air quality is expected due to wildfire smoke" across not just Minneapolis but across large swathes of central and southern Minnesota, as well as portions of west central Wisconsin.
The report further cautions that the smoke is to likely reduce air quality through the following days, peaking on Saturday. There is a minimal chance of rain in the immediate forecast, save for a slight 20 percent chance of showers come Monday afternoon. While the threat of rain isn't significant enough to warrant much hope for clear skies, residents can at least plan to somewhat enjoy the consistently warm daytime highs hovering near the 80-degree mark.
