On Friday at 10:20 a.m. EDT an air quality alert was reported by the National Weather Service in effect until Sunday at 12:15 a.m. EDT for St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne and Monroe counties.
"The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has declared an Air Quality Advisory through Saturday July 5th for elevated levels of Ozone and Fine Particulate (PM2.5) in the metro Detroit area. Pollutants within those areas are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG, Orange AQI) range," states the weather service.
Air quality alerts: Recommendations from the weather service
When an air quality alert pops up on the radar, deciphering its implications is crucial. These alerts, issued by the weather service, come with straightforward yet essential guidance to ensure your safety:
Prioritize indoor stay:
If it's within your means, stay indoors, especially if you have respiratory issues, health concerns, or fall within the senior or child demographics.
Minimize 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.
Scale back pollution-inducing practices:
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:
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.
Focus on 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.