Code Orange Air Quality Alert In Lake Norman Area

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — A Code Orange air quality alert is in effect for the Lake Norman and Charlotte metro regions Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

“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 a bulletin.

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.

The alert comes as temperatures continue to rise in the region. Thursday will see a high of 85 degrees, which will likely mark the coolest day going into the weekend. Friday and Saturday will both top out around 90 degrees, according to NWS.

The chance of rain cooling things off is also low, according to the forecast. There’s only a 20 percent chance of showers on Saturday, and a slightly higher likelihood of rain on Sunday. Next week, however, will likely be a different story.

Here is your weekend weather forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today (June 7)
Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph.
Tonight
Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 68. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday (June 8)
Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South southeast wind 3 to 5 mph.
Saturday (June 9)
A 20 percent chance of showers after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. South southwest wind 3 to 5 mph.
Saturday Night
A slight chance of showers before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11pm and midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday (June 10)
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Sunday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, then a chance of showers between 2am and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

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