The National Weather Service reported an air quality alert at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday in effect until Sunday at 4 p.m. for Westmoreland Ridges and Fayette Ridges as well as Butler, Beaver, Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties.
“The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a code ORANGE air quality alert for Sunday, including the greater Pittsburgh region, including Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Armstrong, Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties. A code ORANGE air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children, the elderly, and people suffering from asthma, heart disease, or other lung diseases. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding outdoor exercise or strenuous activity,” states the weather service.
Air quality alerts: Recommendations from the weather service
When an air quality alert is in effect, following the weather service guidance is pivotal. Here are some simple tips from the weather service for safeguarding your well-being:
Seek shelter indoors when possible:
If it’s within your means, stay indoors, especially if you have respiratory issues, health concerns, or fall within the senior or child demographics.
Curb outdoor exposure:
When venturing outside becomes unavoidable, limit your outdoor exposure strictly to essential tasks. Reducing your time outdoors is the name of the game.
Tackle pollution sources:
Be mindful of activities that increase pollution, like driving cars, operating gas-powered lawnmowers, or using motorized vehicles. Limit their usage during air quality alerts.
Banish open burning:
Avoid burning debris or any other materials during air quality alerts. This contributes to worsened air quality.
Stay informed:
Keep yourself well-informed by tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio or your preferred weather news outlet. Staying in the loop empowers you to make informed decisions regarding outdoor engagements during air quality alerts.
Prioritize respiratory health:
If you have respiratory problems or underlying health conditions, exercise extra caution. These conditions can increase your vulnerability to adverse effects from poor air quality.
By adhering to the recommendations from the weather service, you can enhance your safety during air quality alerts and reduce your exposure to potentially harmful pollutants. Stay vigilant, stay protected, and prioritize your health above all else.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
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