AQ_GEN_PIO_20230609_MISC_PressRls

Website: www.deq.nc.gov
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncdeq
Twitter: @NCDEQ
1601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601

Roy Cooper, Governor Elizabeth S. Biser, Secretary

Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Shawn Taylor Date: June 9, 2023 Phone: [phone]

UPDATE: Some NC Counties Forecast to have Code Orange Air Quality on Friday
Wake, Northern Coastal Plain Now Under Air Quality Action Day Alerts
RALEIGH – As smoke from Canada continues to travel south, fine particle pollution will remain elevated in
parts of North Carolina on Friday.
Wake County, the northern coastal plane, and the Triad region will be under a Code Orange Air Quality Action
Day for fine particle pollution on Friday, June 9. Localized but high fine particulate matter readings in parts of
the state prompted the air quality forecast for these areas to be upgraded to Code Orange for Friday.
The counties under Code Orange for fine particulates are Wake, Randolph, Davidson, Davie, Alamance,
Guilford, Forsyth, Caswell, Rockingham, Stokes, Johnston, Franklin, Nash, Warren, Halifax, Edgecombe,
Wilson, Martin, Northampton, Bertie, Hertford, Gates, Chowan, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Camden, and
Currituck.
The rest of the state is forecast in the Code Yellow range for fine particulates, also known as PM2.5. Visit the Air
Quality Portal online for the latest air quality forecast for your county.
Website: www.deq.nc.gov
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncdeq
Twitter: @NCDEQ
1601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
Additionally, Mecklenburg and Union counties will be under a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for smog-
forming ozone Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ground-level ozone forms when certain chemicals combine on hot
days in the presence of sunshine. Smoky conditions can also promote the formation of ozone. Ozone levels
should be in the Code Yellow range for all other counties on Friday.
Code Orange on the Air Quality index represents unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups. Older adults,
younger children and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma should limit prolonged or heavy exertion
outdoors.
Code Yellow is not considered an air quality action day. People who are unusually sensitive to air pollution may
still consider shortening their time being active outside if they experience any symptoms. Healthy adults can go
about their day as normal.
State law prohibits the open burning of yard waste and other vegetative matter on Air Quality Action Days,
defined as Code Orange or above.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) and the Forsyth County Office
of Environmental Assistance and Protection monitor and forecast ozone and PM2.5 daily using the Air Quality
Index (AQI), along with the corresponding AQI color codes, to help North Carolinians plan their outdoor
activities. Next-day and extended products are issued by 3 p.m. with a morning update by 10 a.m.
As weather pushes more smoke away from North Carolina, PM2.5 and ozone levels should hold in the Code
Yellow range on Saturday, and could return to healthy Code Green levels by Sunday. The forecast is subject to
change, and our meteorologists will continue to monitor the conditions heading into and through the weekend.
For the latest air quality information, visit the Air Quality Portal online. DEQ’s website has a list of resources for
keeping safe around wildfire smoke.
Si necesita esta información en español por favor llame al 919-609-2189 o mande un correo a
[e-mail].
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