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 Purple or Very Unhealthy category.

* WHERE...Portions of Central Minnesota

* WHEN...Until 11 AM CDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Everyone is more likely to be affected by wildfire smoke in these concentrations. Minor trace amounts of ashfall are possible.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Dense smoke is being pulled by a quasi- stationary front across central Minnesota. Smoke will arrive along the I-94 corridor Wednesday evening. The smoke will have a rapid onset with visibility rapidly declining. There will be a sharp gradient of smoke, with some areas of the same counties experiencing Good/Green air quality while other experience Purple/Very Unhealthy for All conditions as the front slowly moves south. Conditions will gradually improve by Friday morning as the front retreats northward.