ATLANTA — For the second day in a row, a code orange air quality alert has been issued for much of north Georgia due to an expected increased level of ozone.
The first Air Quality Alert for this year was issued on Wednesday, and another one was issued for north Georgia on Thursday.
Ozone levels are expected to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. Anyone with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should consider limiting strenuous activity outside in the afternoon and evening when ozone levels are the highest. People with asthma are advised to do the same.
As temperatures warm up in the summer, ground-level ozone pollution increases. The pollutants react to heat and sunlight, so sunny, hot and dry days are optimal for ozone production.
The state is expected to continue a streak of sunny, hot and dry days as we move through the end of the week and into the early part of the weekend. This will likely lead to more Air Quality Alerts being issued.
While the alert is only for Thursday, this issue may continue each afternoon until early next week.
Be sure to stay informed with 11Alive as we continue to track this big heat and the possibility of continued air quality that could be considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The video below is from a previous report.