The Orange County and Santa Ana Mountains area is the focus of an air quality alert reported at 11:54 a.m. on Friday by the National Weather Service. The alert is in effect until Sunday Dec. 14, at midnight.
The NWS San Diego CA says to be ready for, “The South Coast AQMD has issued a mandatory wood-burning ban for residents in the South Coast Air Basin. The No-Burn rule bans burning wood, pellets, and manufactured fire logs in any indoor or outdoor wood-burning device.”
“Particles in smoke can get deep into the lungs and cause health problems (including asthma attacks), increases in emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. No-Burn Days are needed to protect public health when fine particle pollution levels are expected to be high anywhere in the South Coast Air Basin. No-Burn Days are based on fine particle pollution levels that are forecasted for an entire 24-hour period, which may not be reflected in real-time air quality maps,” according to the NWS. “Run your air conditioner and/or an air purifier and avoid using devices that bring in outside air like a swamp cooler or whole house fan if you have other ways to stay cool.”
The full list of affected locations includes:
Santa Ana Mountains/Foothills
Orange County Coast
Orange County
San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys
Riverside County Mountains
San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning
Air quality alerts: Recommendations from the NWS
When an air quality alert pops up on the radar, deciphering its implications is crucial. These alerts, issued by the NWS, come with straightforward yet essential guidance to ensure your safety:
Seek shelter indoors when possible:
Whenever possible, seek refuge indoors, especially if you grapple with respiratory concerns, health issues, or belong to the senior or child demographic
Trim outdoor activities to essentials:
When you can’t avoid going outdoors, keep outdoor activities to the bare essentials. Reducing your time outdoors is the key.
Mitigate pollution sources:
Exercise prudence when it comes to activities that exacerbate pollution, such as driving cars, wielding gas-powered lawnmowers, or utilizing other motorized vehicles. Minimize their use during air quality alerts.
No open burning:
Refrain from igniting fires with debris or any other materials during air quality alerts. Such practices only contribute to the problem of poor air quality.
Stay informed:
Stay updated by tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio or your preferred weather news outlet. Staying informed helps you make wise choices regarding outdoor activities during air quality alerts.
Respiratory health matters:
If you have respiratory issues or health problems, exercise extra caution. These conditions can make you more vulnerable to the adverse effects of poor air quality.
Following the recommendations from the NWS helps bolster your safety during air quality alerts, minimizing your exposure to potentially harmful pollutants. Stay vigilant, stay protected, and make your health the top priority.
For more local weather alerts, visit our Weather Advisory page