Air quality alert in place for Los Angeles County Monday

Los Angeles County is included in an air quality alert reported by the National Weather Service on Sunday at 1:11 p.m. The alert is in effect until Monday Dec. 22, at 1:15 p.m.

The NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA states to prepare for, “The South Coast AQMD has extended a mandatory wood-burning ban for residents in the South Coast Air Basin. The No-Burn rule bans burning wood, pellets, and manufactured fire logs in any indoor or outdoor wood-burning device.”

“Particles in smoke can get deep into the lungs and cause health problems (including asthma attacks), increases in emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. No-Burn Days are needed to protect public health when fine particle pollution levels are expected to be high anywhere in the South Coast Air Basin. No-Burn Days are based on fine particle pollution levels that are forecasted for an entire 24-hour period, which may not be reflected in real-time air quality maps,” according to the NWS. “Run your air conditioner and/or an air purifier and avoid using devices that bring in outside air like a swamp cooler or whole house fan if you have other ways to stay cool.”

The full list of affected locations includes:

• Calabasas/Agoura Hills
• Catalina/Santa Barbara Islands
• San Fernando Valley
• Eastern Santa Monica Mountains Recreational area
• Los Angeles County Beaches
• Los Angeles County Inland Coast including Downtown Los Angeles
• San Gabriel Valley
• Malibu
• Palos Verdes Peninsula
• Santa Clarita Valley
• Santa Susana Mountains
• Western Santa Monica Mountains Recreational area

Guidance for air quality alerts: Insights from the NWS

When an air quality alert is in effect, following the NWS guidance is pivotal. Here are some simple tips from the NWS for safeguarding your well-being:

Prioritize indoor stay:

If it’s within your means, stay indoors, especially if you have respiratory issues, health concerns, or fall within the senior or child demographics.

Curb outdoor exposure:

When you can’t avoid going outdoors, keep outdoor activities to the bare essentials. Reducing your time outdoors is the key.

Scale back pollution-inducing practices:

Be mindful of activities that exacerbate pollution, such as driving cars, operating gas-powered lawnmowers, or using other motorized vehicles. Limit their use during air quality alerts.

A ban on open burning:

Refrain from igniting fires with debris or any other materials during air quality alerts. Such practices only contribute to the problem of poor air quality.

Stay informed:

Keep yourself well-informed by tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio or your preferred weather news outlet. Staying in the loop empowers you to make informed decisions regarding outdoor engagements during air quality alerts.

Focus on respiratory health:

If you have respiratory problems or underlying health conditions, exercise extra caution. These conditions can increase your vulnerability to adverse effects from poor air quality.

Following the recommendations from the NWS helps bolster your safety during air quality alerts, minimizing your exposure to potentially harmful pollutants. Stay vigilant, stay protected, and make your health the top priority.

For more local weather alerts, visit our Weather Advisory page