MOUNT HOLLY NJ – A “code orange air quality alert,” implemented when “air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups,” is in effect across all of Montgomery County, as well Bucks, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties, throughout Thursday (June 8, 2023) the National Weather Service office at Mount Holly reports.
The poor air quality is attributed to smoke from still-uncontrolled Canadian wild fires, burning through thousands of acres of dry forest land. The smoke began blanketing the greater Philadelphia area three days ago, due to atmospheric pressures said to be keeping it in place.
Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung
diseases, and the elderly, it added. However, weather forecasters within the region on Wednesday (June 7) implored viewers and listeners of all ages to stay indoors, even if they were considered healthy. They also urged anyone going outdoors to wear a COVID-like face mask.
“The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors,” the weather service agreed.
Locally, events scheduled for Thursday in Collegeville, and Wednesday in North Coventry, as well as others elsewhere, were purposely postponed or canceled due to air quality worries.
In Sanatoga, as vehicles traveled west Wednesday to climb the famous East High Street “Crooked Hill” from which the village derived its Indian name, its peak was thinly shrouded with a visible smoky haze. Those outside, or with windows open, said they encountered a smoky odor and even an acrid taste in their mouths or throats.
The state Department of Environmental Protection acknowledged Wednesday’s smoke was likely the worst of the week. It described its air quality for most of the state as “code red,” meaning very unhealthy for all people, not just those considered “sensitive.”
The danger presented by code orange air quality is the risk of inhaling increased amounts of “ground-level ozone and fine particles” that can adversely affect or damage the lungs, according to the Philadelphia Health Department.
Photo by Marcus Kauffman on Unsplash, used under license