INTERVIEWER: We've been getting a number of questions from listeners about air quality. And we're seeing 10 times that many this year, but also two years ago. The average- this is what sticks out even more to me- the average number of air quality alerts in a year should be about 2 or 3. 21 was the old record set back in summer of 2021, which we all thought was bad enough. And we've seen a record number of alerts this year, up to 23. SVEN SUNDGAARD: Hi, yeah, it's yet another kind of gross day out there. NPR Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard has been tracking all things related to air quality and weather. This is a pattern we've seen a lot this month. You can see the smoke in the air that's blown in from Canadian wildfires.

INTERVIEWER: Well, I'm looking out my window in Saint Paul- and, yep, still cloudy and hazy. Elks National Convention expected to bring thousands to Minneapolis.

Listen for this week's Minnesota sports update from Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.Supreme Court rules against affirmative action We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation on Minnesota Now with MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard and MPR News host Emily Bright. The MPCA has updates on current air quality conditions. Get the latest weather news, updates and forecasts on Updraft. Last year, Minnesota’s severe weather season kicked off with a record start. The state is in its least-active severe weather season since 1995. Minnesota sets record for most air quality alerts in a seasonĪpart from Saturday’s storms, which accounted for 39 percent of Minnesota’s severe weather warnings this season so far, it’s been a quiet summer for intense storms.Wildfire smoke in Minnesota: How to best protect your health and your home.

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