MPCA warns of busy 2026 summer for bad air

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is warning that summer 2026 will likely bring an active season of air quality alerts, with statewide conditions similar to the smoky summer of 2024. MPCA meteorologists forecast 12 to 16 days affected by wildfire smoke and four to six days when ozone reaches levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, with elevated ozone risk in the Twin Cities suburbs and toward Rochester on hot, sunny days. The agency links the outlook to a strong El Niño pattern expected to produce warmer, drier weather and more sunshine that favors ozone formation, along with the potential for increased local fire activity. Officials are urging Minnesotans—especially those with asthma, heart disease, or other vulnerabilities—to monitor MPCA alerts and limit outdoor activity or stay indoors with filtered air on poor air-quality days. The forecast underscores that metro residents should be prepared for repeated smoke and ozone episodes rather than treating them as one-off anomalies.