The Bay Area Air District issued a Spare the Air alert for Wednesday, Sept. 9, warning that high temperatures and light winds will elevate ozone levels across the region, with inland areas expected to reach unhealthy ranges.
Burlingame and Hillsborough fall in the district's "Coast and Central Bay" zone, where the forecast Air Quality Index sits at 60, in the Moderate range, according to SpareTheAir.org. Conditions are expected to be significantly worse inland. The Eastern Zone is forecast at 101 and the Santa Clara Valley at 104, both in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range.
The alert is driven by ozone, not wildfire smoke.
The air district said on its website that Wednesday's alert is for ozone, separate from smoke tied to a prescribed burn at Angel Island State Park on Tuesday, Sept. 8. High inland temperatures, light surface winds and a delayed afternoon sea breeze are expected to produce elevated concentrations of smog, the district said.
Ozone can cause throat irritation, congestion and chest pain, according to the air district. It can also trigger asthma and inflame the lining of the lungs. Children, older adults and people with respiratory or heart conditions face the greatest risk, ABC7 reported.
The district advises residents to exercise outdoors only in the early morning hours, when ozone concentrations are lower. Other recommended steps include limiting driving and carpooling or taking transit instead.
A National Weather Service Heat Advisory is also in effect from 10 a.m. Wednesday through 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10. Inland temperatures could reach 105 degrees in some locations, with Gilroy forecast at 103 degrees and Concord at 102 degrees. Coastal highs are expected in the 80s. KRON4 Meteorologist Brady Brewster said San Francisco could hit the 90s on Wednesday. The weather service urged residents to stay hydrated and limit outdoor activity.
The air district's forecast shows air quality returning to "Good" by Thursday. Residents can sign up for Spare the Air text alerts at SpareTheAir.org.
