ATLANTA FORECAST
Today: Partly cloudy. High: 88
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low: 65
Tomorrow: Showers and storms likely. High: 81
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
Smog wasn’t as bad as it could have been Thursday.
Atlanta had a code yellow smog alert by the afternoon. The Air Quality Index was 61 in metro Atlanta just before 5 p.m., when the temperature was 86 degrees.
Code yellow is in the moderate range and is one of the least severe designations on the Air Quality Scale. This means there may be mild health concerns for people who have sensitive respiratory issues.
Earlier, a code orange smog alert — the first alert of the season — was issued, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and Channel 2 Action News.
LEARN MORE: Smog alerts in Atlanta: Understanding code red, code orange air quality warnings | Check today's Air Quality Index for Atlanta
The Air Quality Scale used in Atlanta:
"Good" AQI is 0 to 50. Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
"Moderate" AQI is 51 to 100. Air quality is acceptable. For some pollutants, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.
"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" AQI is 101 to 150. Although the general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, people with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.
"Unhealthy" AQI is 151 to 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
"Very Unhealthy" is AQI is 201 to 300. This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects.
"Hazardous" AQI is greater than 300. This would trigger a health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
Despite the smog, Atlanta had beautiful weather with a high of 86 degrees by 5 p.m., Channel 2 reported.
The average high for this time of the year is 79, and the record high is 93.
Atlanta dodged the smoldering 90-degree temps, but Eatonton was close with 89 degrees.
But the warmer it gets, the more likely smog could be a problem.
"Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath," the EPA said.
And when air quality is no longer an issue, storms may be, according to the latest forecast. A cold front expected to hit the metro area could change things.
There is a 70 percent chance of showers and storms Friday evening, and some of those could turn severe, according to Channel 2.
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