Air Quality Alert Issued As Temps Soar In Hunterdon County

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ — As temperatures soar in Hunterdon County on Friday, a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Ground-Level Ozone has been issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection until midnight.

"A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups," according to the National Weather Service.

Sensitive groups include:

• children
• people suffering from asthma
• heart disease or other lung diseases
• elderly.

Residents can minimize the effects of air pollution by avoiding strenuous activity or exercising outdoors.

Here is a look at the upcoming forecast:

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 66. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.

Independence Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.

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