Hazardous smoke, extreme heat cause cancellations across Minnesota

[rangerrebew]

Hazardous smoke, extreme heat cause cancellations across Minnesota | Live updates
By WCCO Staff, Ubah Ali, Lisa Meadows, Anthony Bettin, Stephen Swanson
Updated on: July 16, 2026 / 8:58 PM CDT / CBS Minnesota

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Events and other scheduled outdoor activities are being cancelled across Minnesota Thursday as hazardous wildfire smoke continues to pour down from the north amid an extreme heat warning.

Smoke from northern Minnesota and Canada drifted into the Twin Cities Wednesday evening, dropping air quality to a historically poor level for the region. Improvements are expected on Friday.   


WCCO
For a few hours Thursday afternoon, Minneapolis was ranked first of all major global cities for worst air quality, according to IQAir.

Gov. Tim Walz extended a wildfire peacetime emergency order through early September on Wednesday as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency escalated an air quality alert for much of Minnesota through through Friday at 11 a.m., but the agency says it may be extended.

Read the latest updates on closures below.

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/live-updates/minnesota-wildfire-smoke-hazardous-air-quality-closings-july-2026/

[rangerrebew]

Walz had better get on the stick and do something.  I hear smoke from Canada is really hard on illegal immigrants, especially Somalis, and may drive them to commit crimes.

[Smokin Joe]

Walz had better get on the stick and do something.  I hear smoke from Canada is really hard on illegal immigrants, especially Somalis, and may drive them to commit crimes.

Yeah. Just one part per billion is enough to start a Somali crime wave.