Air quality alerts are in effect across several regions in South Carolina, North Carolina and California because of elevated levels of fine particulates from wildfire smoke and windblown dust, the National Weather Service (NWS) warns.

Why It Matters

While fine particulate pollution poses a risk to everyone, children, older adults, people with respiratory conditions and those who spend extended time outdoors are particularly vulnerable to its effects.

According to the NWS, “Particle pollution can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as asthma attacks, heart and lung disease symptoms, and increased risk of lung infections.”

What To Know

In South Carolina, an air quality alert is in effect until noon Thursday for the towns and cities of Mountain Rest, Rocky Bottom, Seneca, Walhalla, Oakway, Westminster, Easley, Dacusville, Clemson, Greenville, Taylors, Greer, Berea, Boiling Springs, Fingerville, Duncan, Lyman, Landrum, Wellford and Inman.

Northern Spartanburg, greater Oconee and greater Pickens, including their mountainous regions, were also under an air quality alert as the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services warned that winds would carry smoke from the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge wildfires into upstate South Carolina.

“As winds become light and variable across the foothills late tonight, stable conditions will enhance the noticeability of smoke, especially for locations along and north of a line from
Clemson to Travelers Rest,” the NWS wrote in its alert.

A separate alert for the mountains in Greenville County extends through midnight Thursday. Winds are forecast to move smoke into the mountainous areas of Greenville County and into North Carolina.

In North Carolina, Rutherford County is under a code orange air quality action day for fine particulates until midnight, indicating that pollution concentration in the region could reach or surpass unhealthy standards for sensitive groups.

A code red was in place for Henderson, Swain and Polk Counties. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality said that concentrations of fine particulates may approach or exceed unhealthy standards in these areas.

Transylvania County was under a code purple, suggesting concentrations could reach “very unhealthy” levels.

In California, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued an alert through 11:59 p.m. Friday for the Coachella Valley because of high levels of particle pollution from windblown dust.

The affected areas include Indio, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, La Quinta and Coachella. The alert warns of serious health effects from particle pollution and advises all residents—especially sensitive groups—to limit outdoor activity depending on the air quality index level.

What People Are Saying

Meteorologist Tyler Roys told Newsweek, regarding the ongoing air quality alert in California: “A portion of the Sonoran Desert is in the Coachella Valley so when gusty winds are in place to kick up dust and sand particles from the desert into air, air quality can be impacted in the region.”

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “A Code Purple #AirQuality Action Day for PM2.5 will be in effect tomorrow for Transylvania County due a major wildfire in SC.”

What Happens Next

Residents in affected areas are advised to monitor updates from their state environmental agencies and the National Weather Service for localized forecasts and recommended safety measures.