As heat and humidity ebb, wildfire smoke will move back in As a threat of evening storms loomed over eastern Minnesota near the end of a sweltering Wednesday, forecasters warned that northerly winds soon will bring smoke from Canadian wildfires back into the state. July 28, 2021 — 11:40am Text size Copy shortlink: As a threat of evening storms loomed over eastern Minnesota near the end of a sweltering Wednesday, forecasters warned that northerly winds soon will bring smoke from Canadian wildfires back into the state. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for nearly all of Minnesota, starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday and running to 3 p.m. Friday. Fine-particle levels are expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups in an area that includes Detroit Lakes, International Falls, Duluth, St. Cloud, Marshall, Rochester and the Twin Cities, as well as the tribal areas of Fond du Lac, Upper Sioux, Leech Lake, Red Lake, Mille Lacs and Prairie Island.