Code Orange Air Quality Alert Issued For Charlotte Metro

CHARLOTTE, NC — A Code Orange air quality alert is in effect for the Charlotte metro region including the Lake Norman and Mooresville area Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The alert comes as forecasters say isolated thunderstorms may move into the area Wednesday afternoon and evening. Temperatures are expected to soar to nearly 100 degrees Wednesday, with heat index values topping out between 100 and 105 degrees.

"An Air Quality Action Day means that Ground Level Ozone concentrations within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards," the National Weather Service said in an air quality bulletin July 3.

That means those most sensitive to the effects of pollution, such as asthma sufferers or those with heart or lung disease, or the elderly, should avoid exercising outside.

“Mostly sunny, hot and humid weather is expected to continue [Wednesday], though with slightly more clouds than in recent days and with some scattered thunderstorms possible further east over the Coastal Plain and Sandhills,” the NC Air Quality Forecast Center said Wednesday.

Here is your Independence Day holiday weather forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today (July 3)
Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 100. Light and variable wind.
Tonight
Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Independence Day (July 4)
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday (July 5)
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. South southeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers between 11pm and 3am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Saturday (July 6)
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Saturday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, then a chance of showers between 2am and 3am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday (July 7)
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Monday (July 8)
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.