The air quality in St. Cloud and Central Minnesota is not good.

St. Cloud State University professor of meteorology Bob Weisman says the weather pattern that has trapped low clouds for the past several days is allowing dirt particles to build in the lower atmosphere.

However, he adds the Air Quality Index levels have decreased to moderate over much of central and southern Minnesota, but conditions will be favorable for further increase of pollutants. He advises people with a history of heart and breathing problems, kids, and seniors to be careful about spending a lot of time outdoors.

Now, if you’re tired of feeling like you’re living in cloud-covered Seattle or Iceland, sun might be back in the forecast mid-weekend—and the temps could reach the 40’s.  Finally, to boost your mood, keep in mind one year ago we woke up to -31 degree air temperature, the first 30 degree below zero or more in a decade.