Air Quality Warning for Southwest Pennsylvania on Monday

An air quality warning has been issued for Westmoreland Ridges and Fayette Ridges as well as Butler, Beaver, Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties, effective until 4 p.m. Monday.

“The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued an ORANGE Air Quality Alert for Monday, covering the greater Pittsburgh area, including Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Armstrong, Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties. An ORANGE Air Quality Alert means 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 said.

Notes on air quality warnings: Findings from the weather service

When an air quality warning appears on the radar, it is crucial to decipher its meaning. These warnings, issued by the weather service, contain clear but important advice to keep you safe:

Prioritize staying indoors:

If possible, stay indoors, especially if you suffer from respiratory problems or other health problems or if you belong to the group of elderly or children.

Minimize outdoor trips:

If you can’t avoid going outside, limit your outdoor activities to what is essential. The key is to reduce the time you spend outside.

Mitigate 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.

Prohibit open fires:

Resist the temptation to burn debris or other materials during an air quality alert. This practice only exacerbates the air pollution problem.

Stay well informed:

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

Caution regarding respiratory health:

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

Following the weather service’s recommendations will increase your safety during air quality alerts and minimize your exposure to potentially harmful pollutants. Stay alert, protect yourself, 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.