04/23/2026
Air Quality Alert!
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The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) has issued a Code Orange Ozone Action Day for the Central Savannah River Area, Midlands, and Upstate regions of South Carolina in effect from 10 AM to 8 PM EDT Thursday.
Stagnant high pressure will bring another day of low humidity and very warm temperatures to region on Thursday. As there is already a considerable level of pollutants in the atmosphere, another day of these conditions will result in significant ozone production on Thursday. Wildfire smoke may also help to increase ozone concentrations across parts of the region.
All the remaining South Carolina forecast zones are predicted to have ground-level ozone peaks in the yellow category.
An ozone action day means that atmospheric conditions will likely produce unhealthy concentrations of ground level ozone air pollution. A Code Orange forecast indicates that ground level ozone concentrations are expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, which includes people with lung disease, older adults, and children. Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, and do less intense activities, especially during afternoon and early evening hours. You can help prevent ozone pollution by walking or riding your bicycle, taking your lunch to work, reducing idling, conserving energy, and keeping your vehicle properly tuned. For additional information, please visit the SCDES website at http://www.des.sc.gov/ozone or the Environmental Protection Agency AirNow website at https://www.airnow.gov.
South Carolina Air Quality Forecast: des.sc.gov/airqualityforecast
