"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 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
The forecast
Today: Sunny to partly cloudy. High: 92.
Tonight: Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low: 68.
Tomorrow: Sunny early. Scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. High: 90.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
Take an umbrella out with you this weekend
There is a slight chance of rain the remainder of the week, but that will increase to a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday and Monday, acccording to Channel 2 Action News.
Meteorologist Karen Minton said expect rain mostly in the afternoon on Monday. Weather won’t include “a washout,” but it will not be “a perfect Fourth of July weekend either,” she said.
Rain was not the issue on Wednesday. Smog was.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a code orange smog alert for metro Atlanta. During a code orange alert, children, teenagers, elderly adults and people with lung disease or asthma are encouraged to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
The Air Quality Scale used in Atlanta ranges from a “good” to a “hazardous.” Metro Atlanta was in the moderate level early Wednesday. The hazardous portion of the scale would trigger health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population could be affected.
Temperatures were 92 degrees in Atlanta, 84 degrees in Blairsville and 93 degrees in Griffin just before 4:40 p.m.
The forecast called for highs to reach 91 degrees in Atlanta, but the metro area hit 92 degrees about 4:30 p.m.
As temperatures increase, so do chances for reaching the code orange level of air quality.
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