Air Quality Alert Issued For 6 MD Counties Plus Baltimore

MARYLAND — A "code orange" air quality alert is in effect Friday for parts of the Baltimore metropolitan area.

The Maryland Department of the Environment 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 advise people in sensitive groups to avoid outdoor and strenuous activities.

The air quality alert applies to these jurisdictions Friday, Aug. 6:

• Anne Arundel County
• Baltimore City
• Baltimore County
• Carroll County
• Cecil County
• Harford County
• Howard County

Temperatures may reach 90 degrees in the region Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Here is the forecast for the Baltimore-Washington area from the weather service:

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 90. South wind will be 3 to 8 mph. At night, mostly cloud with a low around 68.

Saturday: A chance of showers after 9 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. Nighttime will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Mostly clear at night, with a low around 70.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. The nighttime low will be around 72.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. There's a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms from 3 to 9 p.m. The nighttime low is around 73.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Nighttime will be partly cloudy, with a low around 73.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

See the latest forecast for the Baltimore-Washington region from the National Weather Service.