Code Orange air quality alert issued for Allegheny County
High air pollution might pose a problem for vulnerable groups in Allegheny County Thursday, especially those in Liberty, Clairton and the surrounding area, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The department issued a Code Orange air quality alert for particulate matter for Thursday.
Rapidly rising temperatures Thursday morning and gentle winds are expected to contribute to local air pollution levels, according to the department.
Children, the elderly and those with respiratory issues should be careful and limit outdoor activity when a Code Orange advisory is in effect, according to the DEP.
The National Weather Service projects several unseasonably warm days ahead, with high temperatures in the 60s and 70s. This could lead to more Code Orange days in the region, according to the DEP.
The department last issued a Code Orange alert for Allegheny County for Aug. 10.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index has six color-coded categories. Orange is the third, representing an unhealthy level of pollution for sensitive groups of people.
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