Where to expect wildfire smoke in Minnesota on Monday, Tuesday

The wildfire smoke that had been stubbornly hovering over Minnesota for days on end lifted briefly over the weekend, but more haze is on tap to start the week.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) air quality map showed wide swaths of "good" and "moderate" air quality levels throughout the state Monday morning. 

For many, that's a welcome change from the large pockets of "very unhealthy" air that enveloped regions late last week. 

But this brief smoke break won't last long.

Already, wildfire smoke is once again funneling into Minnesota. The National Weather Service Duluth shared images of the wildfires smoldering just north of the border, with the resulting smoke filling the air and heading directly south into the state.

Most of Minnesota will face fine particle levels that are "unhealthy for sensitive people," while the northwestern edge and northern border will likely see levels deemed unhealthy for everybody.

According to the NWS Twin Cities, surface-level smoke in western Minnesota will gradually advance east across the state Monday afternoon. Hazy skies are expected through Tuesday. 

The entire state is still under an air quality alert through Tuesday at 3 p.m., with the MPCA previously calling this stretch of poor air "unprecedented."

The smoke should begin to lift for much of the state by late Tuesday or early Wednesday, improving air quality once again.

It'll give way to some heat and humidity (with a chance for storms) in the Twin Cities later this week, while Duluth is in line for a cold front with some rain and possible storms.