Will The Canadian Wildfire Smoke Clear For July 4? VA, DC Forecast

VIRGINIA/DC — A "Code Orange" air quality alert has been issued for the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. region on Friday. Experts say smoke from wildfires in Canada will make the air unsafe for many vulnerable groups.

Friday's air quality is expected to be an improvement over Thursday's "Code Red" levels. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments said air quality will improve throughout the afternoon on Friday.

On Friday morning, several areas throughout the region still had code red levels of air quality, according to the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.

The code orange air quality alert comes three weeks after the D.C. area faced its worst air quality on record. On Thursday, the region saw the third-most smoke pollution ever, the Capital Weather Gang said.

Code orange levels mean the air is unhealthy for many sensitive groups due to the increased levels of fine particle pollution from the wildfires.

Government agencies said people most affected by the air quality would include children, older adults, and people with lung or heart diseases.

Wearing a mask may help limit irritation for those suffering from respiratory illnesses, according to officials.

The primary pollutant is fine particulate matter that can be inhaled into the lungs, according to the American Lung Association. The particulate matter in the smoke can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and can affect the heart and lungs, making it harder to breathe.

The Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow program said air quality would improve throughout the weekend as the smoke begins to dissipate. Saturday and Sunday are expected to be "Code Yellow" days. Code yellow air quality is moderate; the air is generally safe to breathe, but some particularly sensitive groups may still see some adverse effects.

On unhealthy air days, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments recommends these actions to avoid further deterioration of air quality:

• Use gas or electric grills instead of charcoal.
• Fill your vehicles' gas tank after sunset.
• Take transit, carpool, or work from home.
• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use, and follow tips from your electric utility about how to use less electricity to cool your home.

Northern Virginia and D.C. residents can check the air quality at their location online.

Here is a look at the National Weather Service forecast through the weekend for Northern Virginia and D.C.:

• Friday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
• Friday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
• Saturday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88.
• Saturday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
• Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
• Sunday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.