Metro Atlanta Weather: Code Orange Issued, Blazing Hot Temps Forecast

ATLANTA, GA — During a heat wave, a code orange air quality alert was issued for metro Atlanta as weather officials deemed the air unhealthy for sensitive groups Wednesday.

The alert was issued by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division.

Orange denotes an air quality index of between 101-150 while an index of above 150 is considered code red, with health effects spreading to members of the general public. Wednesday's AQI was a 104.

Air quality alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including the detection of fine-particle pollution — known as “PM 2.5” — which can irritate the lungs.

According to the national government-operated monitoring platform AirNow, PM 2.5 was moderate early Wednesday morning.

"Under code orange conditions, the outdoor air quality is likely to be unhealthy for some people. Children, people who are sensitive to ozone and people with heart or lung disease should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the late afternoon or early evening when ozone concentrations are highest," the National Weather Service's Peachtree City office said.

Aside from the air quality, metro Atlanta residents will also be battling hot temperatures. Wednesday is expected to have a high of 94 degrees, and the area will only get hotter as the week continues, according to the weather service's 9 a.m. forecast.

At 4:15 p.m., the weather service's weekly forecast was as follows:

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind 5-10 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Thursday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph.

Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 102. West wind 5-10 mph.

Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. West wind 5-10 mph.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 96.

Sunday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.

Monday night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Tuesday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.