Over the past few months, area residents have had to deal with a hurricane, two snow storms and frozen water pipes. What’s next? Smog?
Well, not really.
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, SCDES, issued an Air Quality Alert for Wednesday for fine particulates found in outdoor air following several days of poor air quality. The alert was issued for McCormick, Edgefield, Aiken, Barnwell, Columbia and Richmond counties.
The alert issued is for “code orange,” which indicates a higher than normal amount of fine particulates in the air.
John Quagliariello, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service, NWS, says that his agency uses a color coding system to measure the amount of fine particulates in the air quality and is not an indication of dangerous pollutants being detected in the air.
“These forecasts are typically done from April through September, and what it really means is that people who are vulnerable to respiratory issues should spend a little less time outdoors,” Quagliariello said.
Quagliariello says that two main factors are behind the rise in particulates; conditions are favorable for prescribed burning for forest maintenance and high pressure over the Southeast continues to dominate the region with very little wind to disperse the smoke over a larger area or for the smoke to climb higher in the atmosphere.
These conditions manifest themselves as a haze that can be seen on the horizon.
SCDES recommends that individuals with respiratory health issues and small children limit time spent outdoors and/or move all activities indoors to avoid the smoke or fine particulates.
It is also advisable to keep windows and doors closed, and run an air purifier indoors if one is available. Residents should check the National Weather Service for updated alerts.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter, Editorial Page Editor and weekly columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
