The Washington, D.C., area has potentially dangerous air quality Thursday because of wildfire smoke drifting from Canada – and the air quality Friday could be even worse.
A Code Orange air quality alert was in effect as of Thursday afternoon. Sensitive groups – including people with asthma, children and older adults – are advised to shorten active time spent outdoors.
It comes as high temperatures climb to about 100° and the heat index will likely be near 105°.
“It’s a very nasty day to be outside here – that smoky haze,” Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell said.
You may not be able to smell the smoke, as you could in D.C. during wildfires in summer 2023. But it could affect your eyes, Bell said.
A live look at the D.C. skyline showed hazy skies. The Capitol Building could barely be seen.
In Arlington, Virginia, plenty of people made sure to get outside early in the day. The early morning sun glowed a bit orange.
When Arlington resident Dave Knack woke up Thursday and stepped outside, he said he knew something was off.
“I can taste it. So, yeah, when I come out on my balcony in the morning, I go [lip smack, lip smack, lip smack] – there’s smog in the air here today,” he said.
He got in his daily walk early.
“If we don’t get out now, it’s going to be nasty,” Knack said.
What does a Code Orange air quality alert mean?
An air quality alert is in effect for much of the D.C. area. Go here to check all severe weather alerts.
Under a Code Orange, AirNow.gov says: “People with lung disease such as asthma; children and teens; older adults; and people who are routinely active outdoors for six or more hours a day: Reduce your exposure by choosing less strenuous activities or shortening the amount of time you are active outdoors.” Everyone else can enjoy outdoor activities, they said.
Dr. John Torres, NBC News medical contributor, explained the health effects of low air quality.
“The more intense it is, the more particulates are in the air, and the problem with that is – once we start breathing it in, it’s an irritant,” he said. “And so not only is it going to irritant our lungs, our throat, the back of our mouth, it’s going to irritate our eyes, our nasal passages, pretty much everything, and so you have to listen to these alerts.”
Make sure doors and windows in your home are closed, and turn on the air conditioning if you can. If you don’t need to go outside, don’t.
Experts also say not driving helps cut down on pollutants that go into the air on days like Thursday.
What do we know about the air quality expected on Friday?
As wildfire smoke continues to move into the area and mix down to the surface, the air quality alert on Friday will likely be upgraded to a Code Red, Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper said. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments also said they expect a Code Red.
That would mean everyone would be advised to take it easy outdoors.
At times Friday, the alert even could get escalated to Code Purple or Code Maroon.
[Credit: AirNow.gov]
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The heat, combined with smoke from Canadian wildfires, is making conditions especially oppressive in the D.C. area. News4’s Darcy Spencer spoke with people about how they’re coping – plus shares a doctor’s tips on how to stay healthy.