Poor Air Quality to Strike Montgomery on Thursday, Officials Say

Air in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area will be unhealthy for sensitive groups on Thursday, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment, which has issued an air quality alert for Sept. 17.

Areas around the metro -- including Montgomery County -- are particularly prone to feeling the effects of air pollution Thursday afternoon, according to environmental officials.

Due to pollution concentrations, the air may be unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, older adults, asthmatics and those with heart and lung problems.

People can avoid the effects of air pollution by not exercising outside and abstaining from strenuous activity, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

See the Bethesda forecast and the regional air quality forecast.