Air Quality Warning Issued In NoVA For Thursday With Heat, Humidity Moving In

NORTHERN VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a Code Orange air quality alert Thursday for Northern Virginia.

A Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly.

The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.

The public can visit the Virginia DEQ’s website for more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles.

Forecasters are calling for plenty of sunshine in Northern Virginia and D.C. on Thursday, with 90-degree temperatures.

The humidity will keep most areas above 70 degrees Thursday night into early Friday morning, according to NBC4 meteorologist Chuck Bell, who added that Friday afternoon will also likely bring poor air quality as temperatures reach the mid-90s and the heat index nears 100 degrees.

Here's the National Weather Service forecast for Northern Virginia and Washington for the next few days.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 91.

Thursday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 93.

Friday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.

Saturday: A chance of showers before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 3 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 3 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.

Saturday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between midnight and 3 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Sunday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 3 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.

Sunday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.