Air Quality Alert

* WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particles pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Maroon or Hazardous category.

* WHERE...Central Minnesota including the Twin Cities.

* WHEN...Until 11 AM CDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Everyone is likely to be affected by wildfire smoke in these concentrations. Minor trace amounts of ashfall are likely and have been observed with the dense smoke.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... Dense smoke is causing observed Maroon/Hazardous conditions across central Minnesota. Hourly observations have already surpassed previous hourly records for the Twin Cities, and additional record readings are possible overnight. Smoke will gradually retreat northward and disperse, but is expected to remain in alert-level concentrations until at least Friday.