Spectacular Sunsets Could Soon Be Coming to Southeast Minnesota

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We've got a really nice stretch of weather ahead of us as we head into the holiday weekend, and we could also see some extra-spectacular sunsets too-- and here's why.

I've always been a fan of our neighbors to the north in Canada. They're polite, they like hockey, and they gave us the Tim Hortons coffee shop franchise. (And, by the way, where did all our Minnesota Tim Hortons location go?)

And now, Canada could soon be providing us a certain haze to our skies here in our corner of the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It's due to smoke a wildfire that is burning right now in parts of Manitoba, near Winnipeg-- one of the two Canadian provinces directly north of Minnesota.

KTTC's Weather Authority noted the haziness in the evening skies across southeast Minnesota in a post on their Facebook page Wednesday night. But that's not the only wildfire that been burning in Canada recently. The BBC said other parts of Canada are also experiencing wildfires, especially in the province of British Columbia, where they just suffered through record-setting heat, with temperatures topping 121 degrees! (Temperatures in the Pacific Northwest are usually in the 60s and 70s this time of year!)

And, earlier this spring, according to this Weather Channel story, more than a dozen wildfires were burning across the southern portions of both of those provinces. And as smoke from any of those fires gets caught up in the jet stream, it could make its way into parts of Minnesota and could, under certain conditions, cause the skies to become hazy here. It also could lead to some brilliant colors at sunset, too, if conditions are right.

But while that smoke might create some pretty scenes as the sun sets, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says smoke from these (or any) wildfires could also be problematic for some Minnesotans.

While it may produce beautiful sunsets, wildfire smoke that reaches the ground can affect our health. Wildfire smoke contains fine particles that may be harmful to sensitive groups. Air quality is measured on a color scale called the Air Quality Index. When daily average fine-particle levels reach the orange category, sensitive groups such as children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions may feel the effects.

The good news, though, is that right now, it appears that most of the wildfires are a little too far away to directly affect our weather here, at least right now. You can check the latest smoke map from the Canadian government HERE.

Smoke from wildfires isn't necessarily a big weather phenomenon, given all the other weird weather we sometimes experience here in the North Star State. Keep scrolling to check out 11 of the most devasting weather disasters that have happened here in Minnesota!

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