People with respiratory issues will want to limit their time outside today. A Code Orange Air Quality Alert will be in effect Thursday for metro Atlanta.
The alert is typically issued when the air quality index (AQI) is between 101 to 150. This means the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, who should limit their outdoor activities.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV Weather App for alerts wherever you go]
Those affected include people with respiratory issues such as asthma, children and teens, older adults and people who are routinely active outdoors for six or more hours a day.
A healthy AQI value is 50 or below whereas an AQI over 300 represents hazardous air quality. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, five major pollutants that can affect the air quality are:
- Ground-level ozone
- Particle Pollution
- Carbon monoxide
- Sulfur dioxide
- Nitrogen dioxide
AirNow.gov tracks air quality data for your specific zip code. https://www.airnow.gov/
[INTERACTIVE: StormTracker 2HD Radar]
©2025 Cox Media Group
