Air Quality Warning for Southwest Pennsylvania on Monday

An air quality warning was issued at 9:48 p.m. Sunday and is in effect until 8:00 p.m. Monday for Butler, Beaver, Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties.

“The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for ground-level ozone from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. An ORANGE Air Quality Alert means that air pollution levels in the area may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children, the elderly, and people who suffer from asthma, heart disease, or other lung diseases. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding outdoor exercise or strenuous activities,” the National Weather Service explains.

Air quality warnings: NWS prescribes safety measures

When an air quality warning appears on the radar, it is important to decipher its meaning. These warnings, issued by the weather service, contain clear but important instructions to ensure your safety:

Prioritize staying indoors:

If possible, stay indoors, especially if you suffer from respiratory problems or other health problems or if you are an elderly person or a child.

Minimize time spent outdoors:

If being outdoors is unavoidable, limit your time outside to essential activities. Reducing exposure is paramount.

Combating sources of pollution:

Be aware of activities that worsen air pollution, such as driving a car, operating a gasoline-powered lawn mower, or using other motorized vehicles. Limit their use during air quality alerts.

Prohibition of open fire:

Avoid starting fires with debris or other materials during air quality alerts. Such practices only contribute to the problem of poor air quality.

Stay well informed:

Stay informed by tuning into NOAA Weather Radio or your favorite weather news station. Staying informed can help you make smart decisions about outdoor activities when air quality alerts are in place.

Caution regarding respiratory health:

If you suffer from respiratory problems or other health issues, be especially careful. These conditions can make you more vulnerable to the negative effects of compromised air quality.

By following the weather service’s advice, you can increase your safety during air quality alerts while reducing your exposure to potentially harmful pollutants. Stay alert, stay protected, and make your health your top priority.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service from United Robots that uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.