Montgomery County Under Air Quality Alert Friday

Air in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area -- including Montgomery and Prince George’s County -- will be unhealthy for sensitive groups on Friday, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment, which has issued an air quality alert for Sept. 18.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments issued the “code orange” alert for the Washington region for the second day in a row.

“Code orange” air quality means that due to pollution concentrations, the air may be unhealthy for sensitive groups including children, older adults, asthmatics and those with heart and lung problems.

People can avoid the effects of air pollution by not exercising outside and abstaining from strenuous activity, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

See the Bethesda forecast and the regional air quality forecast.