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Air Quality For High Country In The “Unhealthy” Status For Tuesday November 15, 2016

Last Updated on November 14, 2016 7:15 pm

Air quality from burning wildfires in nearby counties will continue to impact the High Country on Tuesday. On Monday morning the North Carolina Air Quality Forecast Center added the High Country to the Code Red status. On Monday evening NCAQFC said that air quality will remain poor.

Here is the full statement from NCAQFC:

Poor air quality will continue for tonight and Tuesday as smoke from ongoing wildfires in western North Carolina and surrounding states will impact a large portion of the state tomorrow. Areas of smoke will remain over the Mountains and foothills tonight before moving east and southeast tomorrow–along with smoke from other fires in surrounding states–in the wake of a departing area of low pressure. Smoke-related impacts will vary across the state tomorrow, and many people will likely smell smoke across the state. However, the highest smoke concentrations will be in the Mountains: A Code Purple forecast for fine particulates will remain in place through midnight tomorrow night for Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties. Code Red conditions are expected tomorrow over the Asheville and Hickory forecast regions, as well as in Avery, Mitchell, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford and Cleveland counties. Code Orange conditions are expected over the Charlotte region as this smoke builds to the east tomorrow, as well as over Ashe, Watauga, Allegany and Wilkes counties in northwestern North Carolina. Code Yellow particle pollution conditions are likely tomorrow across the remaining forecast regions.

If you can see heavy haze and smell smoke, then air quality is not good and you should limit your outdoor activities. This is particularly important for sensitive groups – that is, children, older adults, people with heart and respiratory problems, and those who work and exercise outside for extended times.

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