Air Quality Alert Issued & Heat Advisory Remains for Lower Bucks County & Surrounding Areas

The National Weather Service has issued an air quality alert and a heat advisory in Lower Bucks and surrounding areas.

Air Quality Alert in effect Tuesday, May 19

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) issued a code orange air quality alert Tuesday for the Philadelphia Metro area.

A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Sensitive groups include children; people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases.and the elderly.

The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercising outdoors.

Heat Advisory in effect until 8 pm Wednesday, May 20

Heat index values are expected to reach 98 degrees in the following areas:

• Pennsylvania: Delaware, Eastern Chester, Eastern Montgomery, Lower Bucks, and Philadelphia Counties
• New Jersey: Mercer, Camden, Gloucester, and Northwestern Burlington Counties.
• Delaware: New Castle County

Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses. Record-setting high temperatures are possible through Wednesday, with maximum heat indexes nearing 100 degrees during peak heating each afternoon. Given the intensity of this early season stretch of heat and humidity, we cannot get acclimated to it yet. Therefore, the impact could be significant if precautions were not taken.

Showers and some thunderstorms will arrive later Wednesday afternoon and evening which will break this early season heat.

NWS urges all to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.