The heat wave baking Southern California not only raises the risk of wildfires and heat-related illness but could bring another hardship: bad air quality.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an air quality alert for inland areas of the South Coast Air Basin and the Coachella Valley because of elevated levels of ozone, likely causing poor air quality during the afternoon and early evening. The alert went into effect Friday at 2 p.m. until Tuesday at 8 p.m.
High temperatures often lead to more pollutants in the air — specifically ozone, the main pollutant during the summertime.
