Thousands of Southern California residents were under air quality alerts on Friday, with authorities advising people in affected areas to keep their doors and windows closed due to particle pollution.
Why It Matters?
The National Weather Service (NWS) warns that particle pollution can deeply penetrate the lungs, potentially triggering asthma attacks, worsening heart and lung disease symptoms, and increasing the risk of lung infections.
While harmful to all, certain groups face higher risks, including individuals with heart or lung conditions, older adults, pregnant individuals, children, and those who spend extended time outdoors.
Key Details
The NWS issued an air quality alert for Coachella Valley, citing warnings from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) about hazardous particle pollution from windblown dust.
Affected cities included Indio, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, and La Quinta.
“Keep doors and windows closed,” the NWS advised in a post.
Residents were also encouraged to use air conditioners or purifiers and avoid activities that generate indoor pollution, such as burning candles, using fireplaces, or grilling.
South Coast AQMD, which oversees air pollution control for Orange County and parts of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, serves a region covering 10,743 square miles and over 16.8 million people.
Winds up to 55 mph were recorded in the Banning Pass from Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
The AQMD noted that dust caused pollution levels to fluctuate between Good and Hazardous (AQI) categories, with Cathedral City and Mecca experiencing the highest levels. Meanwhile, Palm Springs and Indio saw lower pollution levels in the Good category on Thursday morning.
By Friday morning, winds were expected to strengthen, with pollution reaching unhealthy levels for sensitive groups, particularly in the Western Coachella Valley, including Cathedral City and surrounding areas.
Official Warnings
A statement from the South Coast AQMD urged residents to “limit exposure by staying indoors with windows and doors closed or seeking alternate shelter.”
Next Steps
As of now, the air quality alert remains in effect until 3 a.m. Saturday, according to the NWS.
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