Inland Areas One Big Dirty Mess; Inhaling Bad For Your Health
A PM10 Dust Advisory is in effect from Noon Saturday through 6:00 p.m. Monday due to high winds and dry conditions in most of Riverside County. As of Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) has posted Wind Advisories throughout the weekend. For information regarding the NWS advisories, please visit the NWS San Diego (https://www.weather.gov/sgx/) and NWS Phoenix (https://www.weather.gov/psr/) websites.
High winds can lift dust and soil into the air and cause poor air quality. Blowing dust may result in Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or higher Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. This is a prolonged wind event affecting many areas, with the highest impacts expected in the Coachella Valley on Sunday. Air quality can vary hour by hour and by location depending on wind conditions.
In areas directly impacted by high levels of windblown dust, limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed and avoiding vigorous physical activity. Run your air conditioner or an air purifier. If temperatures allow, avoid using whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air.
Exposure to high particle pollution levels can cause serious health problems, including asthma attacks, heart and lung disease symptoms, and increased risk of respiratory infections. People with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctor’s advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Children, older adults, and people with respiratory or heart disease should avoid prolonged exposure and strenuous activities when particle pollution levels are high.
Areas of direct impacts and poor air quality may include portions of:
- Riverside County: Metropolitan Riverside County (Area 23), Perris Valley (Area 24), Hemet-San Jacinto Valley (Area 28), San Gorgonio Pass (Area 29), Coachella Valley (Area 30), East Riverside County (Area 31)
Map of Inland areas under a Dust Advisory.
Photo from South Coast Air Quality Management District
