* 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...Northeast Minnesota. * WHEN...Until 11 AM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Everyone is more likely to be affected. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...While heavy smoke retreats across portions of north central and northeastern Minnesota today, heavy smoke is expected to persist across much of northeastern Minnesota through the weekend and into Monday. A separate area of heavy smoke will move across northwestern Minnesota this morning and afternoon. Northwestern Minnesota should see improved air quality by this evening. Additional heavy smoke may move south from Canada this weekend, and the air quality alert may need to be extended into east central and southeastern Minnesota.

Dry conditions and breezy winds will lead to near critical fire weather conditions tomorrow. Northwest winds of 10 to 20 mph with are forecast for Saturday afternoon and evening. Minimum relative humidity values of 30 to 40 percent are also expected. Together, these conditions could lead to the rapid spread of fires, espeically in areas where recent lightning activity may have started fires. Check burning restrictions and fire danger before burning. For more information on burning restrictions for Minnesota, see www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html.

* WHAT...Heat index values up to 96. * WHERE...In Minnesota, Crow Wing, Aitkin, Pine, Cass, Itasca, and Carlton and South St. Louis Counties. In Wisconsin, Price, Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer, and Washburn Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Bad River Reservation, the Bois Forte Band, Deer Creek area, the northwestern area of the Lac du Flambeau Band, the St. Croix Band in Burnett County, the Red Cliff Band, the Fond du Lac Band, the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation and the Mille Lacs Band, East Lake, Big Sandy Lake, Hinckley and, Lena Lake areas. Other locations including Madeline Island and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. * WHEN...Until 9 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.