Weather Alert: Air Quality Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- As the humidity climbs, the Metropolitan D.C. area is under a Code Orange for air quality Wednesday, which means going outside could be unhealthy for some sensitive groups.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, in association with state departments of the environment, has issued the Code Orange air quality alert Wednesday for the DC metro area.

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

The air quality warning comes as Wednesday is expected to be a scorcher in the D.C. region. The National Weather Service reports Wednesday will be sunny and temperatures will reach the 90s. The area will cool to the 70s by night. These temperatures will change very little for the remainder of the work week.

A yellow, or moderate, air quality rating should return Thursday, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Under this rating, the air pollution poses moderate concerns to a small group of people.

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