"Good" AQI is 0 to 50. Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
"Moderate" AQI is 51 to 100. Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.
"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" AQI is 101 to 150. Although the general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, people with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.
"Unhealthy" AQI is 151 to 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
"Very Unhealthy" is AQI is 201 to 300. This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects.
"Hazardous" AQI is greater than 300. This would trigger a health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
LEARN MORE: Smog alerts in Atlanta: Understanding code red, code orange air quality warnings | Check today’s Air Quality Index for Atlanta
Enjoy the weather, but not too much. The air quality is unhealthy, according to Channel 2 Action News.
“Now the wind is much lighter today. And as the heat comes up, the air just doesn’t move around very much,” meteorologist Brian Monahan said.
About 6:30 p.m., Chief meterologist Glenn Burns said air quality had become dangerously unhealthy and a Code Red smog alert was in effect.
Burns blamed a drought situation for the heat and unhealthy air.
“You really don’t want to be outside right now and it’s not going to get much better,” Burns said. “Because we’re not going to get much rain.”
The alert is one of seven smog warnings this year for metro Atlanta.
Only two of those alerts resulted in actual high smog days, Georgia Commute Options deputy project manager Jenny Schultz said.
Still, children, teenagers, elderly adults and people with lung disease or asthma are encouraged to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
"Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath," according to a post from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The hotter it gets outside, the greater the risk is.
Smog forms when certain pollutants combine with heat and sunlight. They produce ground-level ozone which mixes with fine particulate matter.
Temperatures were 88 degrees in Atlanta, 80 degrees in Blairsville and 89 degrees in Griffin at 6:30 p.m.
Temperatures are expected to continue increasing.
Thursday’s high is 89 degrees. That will increase to 92 degrees Friday and Saturday and 94 degrees Sunday.
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