Santa Cruz County's Air Quality Forecast To Remain Poor

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Poor air quality is likely to last in Santa Cruz County longer than the rest of the Bay Area, according to the National Weather Service.

NWS previously forecast that skies should clear by early this week. But on Monday, NWS said conditions might not see improvement for another few days due to a smoke mass hovering over the ocean.

The entire Bay Area saw air quality in the "unhealthy" range of the Air Quality Index Monday, according to AirNow.

That means most people should avoid strenuous activities, limit active time outdoors and postpone outdoor exercise until conditions improve, according to AirNow. Older adults, kids, teens and people with heart or lung disease are especially susceptible to the effects of the air quality and should consider moving all physical activities indoors and limit time outside.

Air quality is forecast to improve and move into to the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" range by Wednesday and further improve Thursday, moving into the "moderate" zone.

Farther south in Santa Cruz County, air quality is forecast to remain unhealthy for the duration of the week, according to AirNow.