Air Quality Action Day Alert Issued For Pittsburgh Area

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Acton Day for ozone Tuesday in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

The alert was prompted by a combination of sunny skies and temperatures approaching or exceeding 90 degrees today.

Code Orange indicates unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people. Young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems - such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis - are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.

The National Weather Service is predicting high temperatures of around 90 today, with the heat index hovering near 100 degrees in most of the area. Sunny skies are forecast early in the day, with clouds increasing later. A stray shower or storm is possible.

An approaching cold front will hold temperatures in the upper 80s on Wednesday. There's a 60 percent chance of showers and storms developing. The storms will continue Thursday, with high temperatures in the mid-80s.

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