Air Quality Alert Issued In Chester Co.: How You Can Help

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — An air quality alert has been issued Friday for Chester County and the rest of the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area, the National Weather Service announced.

The code orange alert indicates "unhealthy" air for sensitive groups like children, the elderly, and those with asthma, heart disease, or lung disease.

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

"Mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the lower 90s will create conditions for robust ozone development and formation into the code orange range during the afternoon hours," the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said in a statement.

Orange is the next to worst level of air quality in the DEP's scale. Red indicates unhealthy pollution levels for all individuals.

Residents can help reduce poor quality by following these tips, according to state environmental officials:

• Conserving electricity by setting air conditioning to a higher temperature
• Combining errands to reduce vehicle trips
• Limiting engine idling
• Refueling cars and trucks after dusk

The poor air quality comes just ahead of potentially damaging thunderstorms Friday, which could bring large hail, powerful winds, and torrential rain.

Related: Severe Thunderstorms To Hit Eastern PA: Latest Updates, Timing

Meanwhile, the coming heat wave now looks to be even more intense once Friday's thunderstorms move out, with up to seven straight days of highs over 90 degrees.