NWS Issues Air Alerts in 3 States as AQI Tops 100 in New York
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · May 18
NWS Issues Air Alerts in 3 States as AQI Tops 100 in New York
3 articles · Updated · Newsweek · May 18
Air quality alerts across parts of New York, Maryland and Southern California warn residents through Monday to stay indoors or limit outdoor activity as ozone and dust reach unhealthy levels.
AQI in New York City, Westchester and Rockland is expected to rise above 100, while Maryland issued a Code Orange alert for Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Cecil and Harford counties.
Southern California’s Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass face dangerous fine-particle pollution through Monday morning, driven by windblown dust and dry conditions rather than ozone.
Children, older adults, people with asthma, heart or lung disease, and outdoor workers face the highest risk because ozone inflames airways and fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs.
Officials urged residents to close windows, use air conditioning or purifiers, avoid strenuous afternoon exercise, and cut driving or gas-powered equipment use to reduce exposure and emissions.
With air quality worsening in major cities, are our decades-old clean air laws no longer enough?
Beyond temporary alerts, what permanent damage is airborne pollution inflicting on our children?