Air Quality Alerts
Air quality alerts are issued when measured or forecasted air quality conditions can be harmful to those who are sensitive to air pollution, including:
- People who have asthma or other breathing conditions
- People who have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes
- Older people
- Children
- People exerting themselves in prolonged, heavy activities
Air quality alerts are most often driven by weather conditions that increase the rate at which air pollutions are formed or accumulate in the air. In Minnesota, air quality alerts are often triggered by smoke from wildfires.
Even when healthy, you may experience temporary symptoms from exposure to elevated levels of particle pollution. Symptoms may include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; phlegm, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
Air quality alerts are coded by color. BYSA will follow the Minnesota Department of Health Guidelines based on the pollution level in the air:
Daily AQI Color | Level of Concern | Description of Action |
Green | Good | Air quality is satisfactory and poses little to no risk. Activities remain unchanged. |
Yellow | Moderate | Air quality is acceptable. There may be risk for some people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Activities remain unchanged. Those with sensitivities may moderate activity accordingly. |
Orange | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | People in sensitive groups are encouraged to reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, or do less intense activities to reduce their exposure. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plan and keep their rescue inhaler nearby. |
Red | Unhealthy | The air is unhealthy for everyone. Reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks and avoid intense activities to reduce exposure. Sensitive and more exposed individuals should avoid prolonged or vigorous activities and consider shortening, rescheduling, or moving outdoor events inside. |
Purple | Very Unhealthy | The risk of health effects is increased for everyone. Move all outdoor activities indoors or reschedule for another day. |
Maroon | Hazardous | Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected. Avoid all outdoor activities. Keep indoor activity levels low. |