These 10 MN Cities Have the Worst Air Quality in the State Right Now
We may be proud of our 10,000 Lakes here in Minnesota, but when it comes to clean air, these cities have the worst air quality in the entire state in 2026.
When it comes to pollution in the North Star State, most of us likely think that our fair state is above average. Our pristine lakes, prairies, parks, and recreational areas are great for getting some fresh-- unpolluted-- air, right? Heck, we even have our own state agency that was established to get a handle on pollution.
How Minnesota Ranks for Air Quality in 2026
That would be the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), by the way. And, since its founding back in 1967-- three years before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formed-- it's been serious about keeping the Land of 10,000 Lakes clean:
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is committed to ensuring that every Minnesotan has healthy air, sustainable lands, clean water, and a better climate. Through the authority of state and federal statutes and guidelines, we focus on preventing and reducing the pollution of air, land, and water.
And it turns out the MPCA is apparently doing a pretty good job, too. According to the latest Air Quality Index by the World Population Review, Minnesota is currently the 14th best state in the country when it comes to air quality in 2026. We scored a lowly 38.3 out of 500 on the Air Quality Index, which measures levels of ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide.
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The 10 Minnesota Cities With the Highest Pollution Levels Right Now
However, even in one of the top 10 states for air quality, as the Bold North currently is, some cities are worse than others. According to the real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) from IQ Air, the following Minnesota cities have the worst air quality (as of February 24, 2026):
AQI Real-Time Minnesota Worst Air Quality City Rankings
- Crystal
- Hastings
- Roseville
- Renville
- Shoreview
- Eden Prairie
- Red Lake Falls
- Mankato
- Shakopee
- Wilmar
From Shorewood to Prior Lake: Where to Find Minnesota’s Cleanest Air
And, on the other end of the spectrum, IQ Air also lists the Minnesota cities with the best air quality, as well (also as of February 24, 2026):
AQI Real-Time Minnesota Cleanest Air Quality City Rankings
- Shorewood
- Grand Marais
- Ely
- Lutsen
- Crosby
- Orr
- Grand Portage
- Forest Lake
- Pequot Lakes
- Prior Lake
Those rankings change, of course, in response to real-time events in and around the Gopher State, like when all that smoke from the Canadian wildfires burning out of control caused the MPCA to issue a record number of air quality alerts in 2023.
And in late July and early August 2025, the MPCA noted that Minnesota experienced its longest-ever air quality alert, which lasted seven days due to persistent wildfire smoke from Canada.
Check out the video below to get more information on Minnesota's AQI, and keep scrolling to examine some other extremes-- temperatures-- both here in Minnesota and in every other U.S. state as well.
LOOK: The most extreme temperatures in the history of every state
Gallery Credit: Anuradha Varanasi
