A Code Orange Air Quality Alert is in effect for much of Southeastern Pennsylvania on Sunday, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The Code Orange Alert is due to the expected sunny skies, light winds and high temperatures reaching 90, according to the DEP.
Wildfire smoke is also playing a part in the Code Orange, officials said.
The air quality is expected to be at its worst in the afternoon on Sunday, officials said.
During a Code Orange Alert, sensitive groups, such as children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, should avoid strenuous or long activities outdoors, according to the DEP.
Residents can help keep the air cleaner by doing the following:
- Driving less by carpooling or using public transportation;
- Combining errands to reduce vehicle trips;
- Limiting engine idling;
- Refueling cars and trucks after dusk; and
- Conserving electricity by setting air conditioning to a higher temperature and turning off lights that are not in use