Air Quality Alert: Saharan Dust Forces a “CODE ORANGE” for Hamilton County

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — With sizzling high temperatures being the primary reason some are choosing to stay indoors today, there’s now an additional incentive for specific groups in Hamilton County to avoid the great outdoors: the air we’re breathing.

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau (APCB) has announced that Friday has been classified under a ‘Code Orange’ due to poor air quality. The alert specifies that particular groups should be cautious:

1. People with heart or lung disease
2. Older adults
3. Children and teens

How to Stay Safe

The APCB advises these affected groups to take the following precautions:

• Choose less strenuous activities to avoid heavy breathing
• Shorten the duration of time spent outdoors
• Seek areas where the air quality is better

For everyone else, the recommendation is clear: Enjoy your outdoor activities but stay aware of the air quality.

The Saharan Dust Factor

According to Chief Meteorologist David Glenn, every summer, massive wind storms over the Western Sahara in Africa gather up Saharan dust and sand, pushing it high into the atmosphere. From there, the dust is carried by the Westerlies across the Atlantic, moving through the Caribbean to the Gulf over Texas, and then finding its way to our region. This year, high-pressure conditions have trapped it over Hamilton County, leading to a hazy outlook.

Combination with Smoke

But that’s not the entire story. Claudia Gillman-Acuña, the Air Monitoring Manager at the Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau, reveals that the dust is mixing with smoke in the air, making the quality even worse.

“Basically, it is picking up everything that’s coming down from the Gulf, and it’s also picking up anything that’s on fire. So it’s a mixture of smoke as well as Saharan dust,” says Claudia.

Code Orange Recommendations

During a Code Orange alert, those with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens should:

• Reduce outdoor work
• Shorten time spent outdoors

For everyone else, the air quality is still relatively safe, but caution is advised, especially for those with pre-existing respiratory issues.

Looking Ahead

Claudia mentioned that the haze is likely to hang around over the weekend, depending on wind conditions and any storm activity in the Gulf of Mexico.

If you’re interested in tracking the daily air quality in Hamilton County, it’s updated each weekday around 9 a.m. Stay informed and stay safe!