Air quality worsened Thursday in the Washington DC area due to smoke from Canadian wildfires, posing a health risk to anyone who spends time outdoors.
In fact, DC ranks as the city with the worst air quality in the world, according to IQAir.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) issued a code red for the capital, which means the air is unhealthy.
Under this alert, residents may experience health effects, but they will be more severe for people in sensitive groups. It is recommended to stay indoors. Older adults, children, adolescents, and people with heart or lung disease should take caution.
Look at the map below to check the air quality in your area.
Air quality can change throughout the day and from neighborhood to neighborhood as smoke from wildfires billows over much of the United States, according to NBC News.
The thick fog reduced visibility and left an orange tint.
WHY IS THE AIR UNHEALTHY?
The main pollutant is fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can be inhaled into the lungs, according to the american lung association. Those tiny particles in the smoke can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and can affect the heart and lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
On Wednesday, the Clean Air Partners agency issued a code orange for poor air quality.
Drifting smoke from the wildfires in Canada lowered sheets of haze across wide swaths of the United States on Wednesday. Across Canada, 490 fires were burning, and 255 were considered out of control.
An aerial view from Air Force One showed smoke encircling the United States Capitol.
However, this week was not as bad as June 8, when code red, purple and brown alerts were issued. At one point that day, DC’s air quality was the worst in the world. Schools and day care centers kept children inside, the Smithsonian National Zoo closed and flights were delayed.
WHAT IS EXPECTED FOR THE WEEKEND?
Telemundo 44 meteorologist Joseph Martinez anticipated better conditions for the next few days at the DMV.
“This smoke will begin to decrease in concentration by the weekend. It will still be present on Friday, but by Saturday the air quality should begin to improve,” he explained.
However, there is a risk of storms for the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday due to humidity. It is not expected to rain all day, according to Martínez.
Low temperatures will be in the mid 70s range and highs could reach the 90s.
It should be noted that, for the moment, “July 4 looks without precipitation,” the expert concluded.
Stay tuned to The Weather Authority for the updated forecast.
