Air Quality Alert For Northern Virginia, DC Issued

WASHINGTON, DC — A "code orange" air quality alert is in effect Wednesday for parts of northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments issues a "code orange" alert when pollution concentrations may be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children, older adults, heart/lung disease sufferers and asthmatics are considered sensitive.

To minimize the effects from the air quality, officials urge people in sensitive groups to avoid outdoor and strenuous activities.

These areas are under the air quality alert Wednesday, Aug. 25: the District of Columbia, along with Loudoun, Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church and Alexandria in Virginia.

Temperatures may hit the mid 90s in the region Friday, according to the National Weather Service, which predicted it will be hot and humid with an afternoon thunderstorm possible. The feels-like high temperature is likely to be 101 degrees.

See the latest Washington metro weather forecast from the National Weather Service.

Visit the www.mde.state.md.us/air for more information from the Maryland Department of the Environment on ground-level ozone and fine particles.