Air Quality
Minnesota generally enjoys good air quality, though wildfire smoke from Canada has caused periodic hazardous air days in recent summers.
Monitored days with good air quality
1990–2025U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County, all monitored Minnesota counties.
Monitored days unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse
1990–2025U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County (AQI above 100).
| Indicator | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Unhealthy air quality days/yr | 10 | 15 |
- •Smoke from Canadian wildfires gave Minneapolis some of the worst air quality readings in the world for brief periods in 2023.
Wildfires
Minnesota experiences occasional wildfires in its northern forests, notably the Boundary Waters region, though far fewer and smaller than in Western states.
| Indicator | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Acres burned annually (avg, thousands) | 15 | 7000 |
Drought
Minnesota experiences periodic drought, particularly in its northern and western agricultural regions, though less severe than in the western U.S.
Area in drought (D1–D4), yearly average
2000–2025U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.
Area in extreme or exceptional drought (D3–D4)
2000–2025U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.
| Indicator | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Drought share (%) | 15 | 30 |
Water Usage
Minnesota's abundant lakes and rivers support water use dominated by agricultural irrigation and industrial processing, with the Mississippi River as a key resource.
| Indicator | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural water use share (%) | 60 | 80 |
- •Minnesota has more shoreline than California, Florida and Hawaii combined thanks to its lakes.
Emissions
Minnesota's greenhouse gas emissions per capita are moderate, driven by agriculture, cold-climate heating and the Twin Cities transportation sector.
Energy-related CO₂ emissions
1970–2021U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, all sectors and fuels (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTTTOMNA).
Transportation CO₂ emissions
1970–2021U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, transportation sector (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTCTOMNA).
| Indicator | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| CO2 per capita (tons) | 13 | 14.9 |
Climate Indicators
Minnesota's climate is continental with cold winters and warm summers; average temperatures have risen faster than the national average, particularly in winter.
Average annual temperature
1895–2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December average.
Annual precipitation
1895–2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December total.
| Indicator | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature rise (°F) | 3 | 2.5 |