Unhealthy Smog Levels Prompt 'Spare the Air' Alert in East Bay

For the first time in its history, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a same-day smog alert for Monday.

Typically, the air district issues Spare the Air alerts the day before it expects unhealthy levels of smog to blanket the region. Today, however, air district officials expect a high-pressure system to be stronger than anticipated, temperatures to remain hot and sea breezes to remain lighter than forecast.

"As a result, we are alerting the public to protect their health today by avoiding strenuous exercise this afternoon when smog levels with be highest," Jack Broadbent, the air district's executive officer, said in a statement.

The air district also encourages Bay Area residents to bike, walk, carpool or take public transportation to work and school on Spare the Air days. There is no free transit today and a wood-burning ban has not been
called.

This is the region's 22nd smog alert of the season, according to air district officials.

By Bay City News

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