Dust Advisory In RivCo: Very Unhealthy Air Quality

LAKE ELSINORE, CA —Do you smell dust or smoke in the air? You're not alone. Riverside County, San Bernardino, Orange County and portions of Los Angeles will see reduced air quality at least through Tuesday, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Windblown Dust Advisories often occur after strong Santa Ana winds whip through the south coast basin, stirring up concentrations of dust and debris into the air we breathe.

With particulate matter measuring in at 10 on the scale, air quality has catapulted into the "Very Unhealthy" realm through Tuesday.

"Very Unhealthy" means that the air quality index has skyrocketed to 201 to 300, triggering the alert.

Areas of southern California directly impacted with very unhealthy/poor air quality may include portions of:

• Orange County: Northern Orange County (Area 16), Central Orange County (Area 17), Saddleback Valley (Area 19)
• Riverside County: Corona-Norco (Area 22), 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)
• San Bernardino County: Northwest San Bernardino Valley (Area 32), Southwest San Bernardino Valley (Area 33), Central San Bernardino Valley (Area 34), East San Bernardino Valley (Area 35)

"Limit your exposure by remaining indoors with the windows and doors closed," they advised. "Also, avoid vigorous physical activity."