Air Quality Alert Message

Full Alert Message

Air Quality Alert Message MD Dept of Environment and VA Dept of Environmental Quality Relayed by National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 440 PM EDT Fri Jul 17 2026 ...AIR QUALITY ALERT CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY JULY 18 2026... The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a Code ORANGE Air Quality Alert Saturday for Winchester and the eastern West Virginia Panhandle. Concentrations of fine particulate matter due to wildfire smoke will persist at levels consistent with an Air Quality Index of Unhealthy (Red Alert) to Very Unhealthy (Purple Alert) Friday night into Saturday morning. Air quality begins to improve Saturday afternoon. Code Purple and Code Red Air Quality Alerts mean that air pollution concentrations within the region are unhealthy to very unhealthy for the general population. A Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors. For more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles visit the web site Virginia DEQ air quality web site at www.deq.virginia.gov