Weather
West Coast Wildfires Prompt Air Quality Alert For Davidson
The smoke from wildfires in the northwest are elevating fine particulates and creating hazy skies throughout North Carolina.
DAVIDSON, NC — A Code Orange air quality alert is in effect Thursday through midnight for much of North Carolina, including Mecklenburg County and the greater Charlotte metro, according to the National Weather Service.
The alert means that those most sensitive to the effects of pollution, such as asthma sufferers or those with heart or lung disease, or the elderly, should avoid exercising outside.
The alert comes as smoke from wildfires burning in the northwest and central Canada move into the state, creating hazy skies and elevated readings of fine particulates, according to the NC Air Quality Forecast Center.
Find out what's happening in Davidsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Fine particulate concentrations into the Code Orange range are being observed over parts of the Piedmont and Foothills, and are expected to expand over much of western, central, and northeastern North Carolina tonight, and over all but a few coastal counties along southeastern North Carolina tomorrow," NC Air Quality Forecast Center said.
This graphic is a comparison between Charlotte on a day with good conditions and Charlotte today with low air quality. The hazy skies will likely stick around over the next few days as the smoke continues to filter into the Warning Area from the wildfires out west. #ncwx #cltwx pic.twitter.com/Hebwd6RUi7
— NWS GSP (@NWSGSP) July 21, 2021
Thursday #ncwx update: • A hazy, smoky day is expected across much of NC today as smoke layers from the western U.S. fires persist throughout the day. An Air Quality Alert for fine particles has been issued by NC DEQ for much of NC. Conditions are expected to improve Friday. pic.twitter.com/3b9SgcjM1e
— NC Emergency Management (@NCEmergency) July 22, 2021
Here is the National Weather Service forecast through the weekend:
Find out what's happening in Davidsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today (July 22)
Widespread haze after 11am. Sunny, with a high near 92. North northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Tonight
Widespread haze before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Light east wind.
Friday (July 23)
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. East northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday (July 24)
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southeast wind 3 to 6 mph.
Saturday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers between 8pm and 9pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday (July 25)
Sunny, with a high near 93.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Monday (July 26)
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
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