Air Quality Alert Issued For Middlesex County

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — An air quality alert for Middlesex County is in effect for Friday.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a code orange alert, meaning air within the region may become unhealthy for children, the elderly and people with respiratory or other lung diseases.

Health impacts can be minimized by avoiding outdoor exercise or strenuous activity, officials said.

Meanwhile, forecasters expect thunderstorms on Friday night that will lead into a heatwave next week.

Here’s the forecast for the next few days from the National Weather Service:

• Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Low around 60. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
• Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. North wind around 7 mph.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm.
• Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.

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