St. Paul, MN Air Quality Index (AQI)
Is it safe to go outside in St. Paul today? Start with the AQI above. Smoke risk here spikes when Canadian wildfire plumes ride the jet stream south — increasingly a summer fixture. Below you'll find the forecast, the nearest monitors, and what each AQI level means for your health.
About air quality in St. Paul
St. Paul is the 2nd most populous of the 4 Minnesota cities we track, with a population of about 311,527, in Ramsey County.
A city this size carries its own year-round PM2.5 baseline from traffic, construction and industry, so wildfire smoke here arrives on top of an existing load rather than against clean background air. That matters for reading the number: a moderate AQI in St. Paul on a smoke-free week is normal, and the same AQI during a plume means considerably more smoke than it would somewhere with a lower floor.
Smoke risk here concentrates in June through August, driven by Canadian boreal fire smoke riding the jet stream south — increasingly a summer fixture rather than an exception. Outside that window an elevated reading in St. Paul is more likely to be local — traffic, dust, or a temperature inversion holding everyday pollution near the ground — than wildfire smoke, and the dominant pollutant shown above is what tells the two apart.
How local is this reading? The AQI above is reported for a monitoring area, not for a street address. The nearest city we track is Minneapolis, MN, about 9 miles away — close enough that the two usually move together, so a large gap between them is a sign the plume edge is somewhere between you.
Today & tomorrow
What each level means
| AQI | Level | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0–50 | Good | A great day to be active outside. |
| 51–100 | Moderate | Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors and watch for symptoms. |
| 101–150 | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors, take more breaks, and reschedule strenuous activities. |
| 151–200 | Unhealthy | Everyone should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors; sensitive groups should move activities indoors or reschedule. |
| 201–300 | Very Unhealthy | Everyone should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and move activities indoors; sensitive groups should stay indoors and keep activity low. |
| 301–500 | Hazardous | Everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors; stay indoors with clean air and keep activity low. |
Guidance paraphrased from EPA. Not medical advice — see disclaimer.
Nearby cities
All Minnesota cities · Smoke & your health · Can I go outside?
St. Paul air quality FAQ
What is the air quality in St. Paul right now?
The live AQI for St. Paul, MN is shown at the top of this page, sourced from AirNow (U.S. EPA) and computed with the 2024 EPA standard, with the observation time and source labeled.
Is it safe to go outside in St. Paul today?
It depends on the current AQI and whether you're in a sensitive group. At AQI 101–150 sensitive groups should cut back on prolonged outdoor exertion; at 151+ everyone should. Use our "Can I go outside?" tool for tailored guidance.
Why does St. Paul's AQI here match AirNow?
Because AirNow is our display truth for US monitors — we show its reported number, never a self-computed value that disagrees with it for the same monitor.
When is wildfire smoke worst in Minnesota?
Smoke here is usually worst in summer when Canadian or Western wildfire plumes drift over the region.