An Air Quality Alert remains in effect through midnight Friday for all of Ohio, including Logan and Champaign counties, as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to affect the region.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency says air quality is expected to range from “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” to “Unhealthy,” with hourly conditions that could briefly reach the “Very Unhealthy” or even “Hazardous” categories.
Residents are encouraged to limit strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults, and children.
Anyone outdoors should watch for symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning of the eyes, nose, and throat.
Adding to the weather concerns, the National Weather Service says scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop Friday afternoon and continue into the evening.
A few storms could become strong to severe, with damaging winds posing the greatest threat.
Storms will also be capable of producing torrential rainfall, which could lead to localized flash flooding.
Additional showers and thunderstorms are expected on Saturday afternoon and evening, with another chance for a few severe storms capable of producing damaging winds.
Residents are encouraged to monitor the forecast throughout the day and be prepared to move indoors if threatening weather develops.
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