A lot of smoke in the Metro area. And I have not seen a single bird tday

[question everything]

The previous two days they emptied a bird feeder.

An air quality alert that went into effect for much of the state on Tuesday has now been expanded.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said the air quality has reached the hazardous maroon designation for the Twin Cities metro area, Brainerd, Alexandria, Rochester, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Winona, Mankato, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Upper Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, White Earth, Red Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac.

https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/evacuations-continue-as-wildfires-burn-in-northern-minnesota-over-33000-acres-burned/

[Ocelot II]

1. I think the birds are laying low.

[mzmolly]

2. I'm in the burbs and it's bad,

even while staying inside. I can't imagine living farther north.

Yes, poor wildlife. It's so sad.

[progree]

3. Record readings

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/twin-cities-minnesota-air-quality-alert-wildfire-smoke-ozone-july-2026/

3-day air quality alert in effect amid Minnesota wildfires, heat dome, 10p 7/15/26, CBS

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said Wednesday night that hourly observations for the Twin Cities surpassed previous records and additional record readings are possible into Thursday.

When I woke up this morning, 5:30 AM, 4 miles west of the IDS tower, it was unimaginably horrible INDOORS, and I was seriously wondering if I should spend my time in the basement which is ENTIRELY underground (no windows of any size, none of that), where air from yesterday might linger for a while. But now at 7:28 AM I'm not noticing anything indoors -- it's either gotten better or I've gotten used to it.

[progree]

4. "Wildfire smoke concentration is now record-setting. Air quality alerts cover most of Minnesota"

Star Tribune headline, 7/16/26 (no paywall for this MSN-hosted article)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/wildfire-smoke-concentration-is-now-record-setting-air-quality-alerts-cover-most-of-minnesota/ar-AA282Bki

New records for wildfire smoke concentration were set Wednesday in the Twin Cities, the Duluth area and in Grand Portage, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

. . .

According to IQAir, only Detroit and Toronto have worse air in the world than Minneapolis as of early Thursday.

. . .

Readings on Thursday morning include 952 in Duluth, 966 in Ely, 670 in Grand Portage, 561 near Brainerd and levels between 300 and 486 in the metro area, according to the MPCA. In other words, it is thick out there.

When will it get better?: The National Weather Service says air quality should start to improve slightly Friday, with even better air arriving Saturday and Sunday