Weekend Weather, Code Orange Smog Alert

The weekend is here and the forecast for the Cumming area is calling for:

• Today - a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms  otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 100.

• Tonight -  a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy with a low around 74.

• Saturday- Mostly sunny and hot, hi near 95 with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Heat index values as high as 100.

• Sunday - Mostly sunny and hot, hi near 95 with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.

The Cumming area is also under another smog alert for Friday, July 22, issued by the Georgia Clean Air Campaign.

Today’s air quality index (AQI) forecast is 101, an unhealthy range for sensitive groups. The corresponding ozone concentration is 76 parts per billion.

A code orange advisory means children, people who are sensitive to ozone, and people with heart or lung disease should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the late afternoon or early evening when ozone concentrations are highest.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) has five color-coded levels: green or good (AQI 0 to 50), yellow or moderate (AQI 51 to 100), orange or unhealthy for sensitive groups (AQI 101-150), red or unhealthy  (AQI 151 to 200) and purple or very unhealthy (AQI 201 to 300).

The Clean Air Campaign issues smog alerts on days when the concentrations of either ozone or particle pollution -- or both -- are expected to reach unhealthy levels.

To help improve air quality, The Clean Air Campaign recommends the following steps to keep more cars off the road thereby reducing the amount of smog-forming vehicle emissions that contribute to poor air quality:

• Commuters can carpool, vanpool, walk, cycle, ride transit or telework.

• Parents can walk with children to school, look into riding the school bus or make sure children's school participate in the Clean Air School program.

• Businesses can encourage alternative commute options, offer incentives to use clean commutes and get free consulting services for doing this from The Clean Air Campaign.

A heat advisory means that a period of dangerous heat is expected. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room and stay out of direct sunshine. Remember the elderly, very young and people with heart conditions are most at risk in extreme heat. Friends, relatives and neighbors should check on people who may be at risk. People are advised to reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or after sunset where possible and to know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.