Air Quality Alert Issued As Temps Soar In Somerset County

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — As temperatures soar in Somerset County on Friday, a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Ground-Level Ozone has been issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection until midnight.

"A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups," according to the National Weather Service.

Sensitive groups include:

• children
• people suffering from asthma
• heart disease or other lung diseases
• elderly.

Residents can minimize the effects of air pollution by avoiding strenuous activity or exercising outdoors.

Here is a look at the upcoming forecast:

Friday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 89. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 68. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then a slight chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.

Independence Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

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