Fireworks prompt Code Purple, ‘Hazardous’ air quality alerts for part of DC region
The National Mall fireworks show attracted thousands to D.C. and lit up the Tuesday night sky in a beautiful display, but it also left lingering smoke and triggered air quality alerts.
The National Mall fireworks show attracted thousands to D.C. and lit up the Tuesday night sky in a beautiful display, but it also left lingering smoke and triggered air quality alerts.
“Code Purple” air spread into Prince George’s County, Maryland, on Tuesday night. “Code Red” air stretched across more of Southern Maryland and into Fairfax and Arlington counties and the city of Alexandria in Virginia, according to AirNow.
Here’s a chart explaining the Air Quality Index and its corresponding alerts:
“We’re looking at some very unhealthy levels across parts of our area. There’s no fireworks display that was bigger than what was happening over D.C., and with the winds being out of the west and southwest, we’re seeing some of the fine particle pollutants being carried into Northern Prince George’s County,” 7News Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson said.
At least part of the District was under a “Hazardous” alert until just before 1 a.m., according to Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow website. Everyone in the area of a Hazardous alert has transitioned into a Code Purple and is encouraged to stay inside and reduce outdoor activity levels.
The D.C. region is under a “Code Orange” alert until Thursday because of the lingering fireworks smoke.
“I’m hoping we’re going to see a lot of this start to mix out by early [Wednesday] morning and still get down to Code Orange for at least the morning hours and hold there for the afternoon or do a little better,” Johnson said. “If you can, go back to pulling that mask out.”
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Forecast:
Early Wednesday: Scattered clouds. Lows in the upper 60s to mid 70s.
Wednesday: Partly sunny with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Highs near 90.
Thursday: Mostly sunny with isolated afternoon storms. Highs near 90.
Current weather:
WTOP’s Ivy Lyons contributed to this report.
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Source: WTOP
