The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for today and tomorrow. Temperatures are expected to reach 110 to 120 degrees in the lower elevations with lows of 80 to 90 degrees. The intense heat may create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely; especially for the elderly, children, homeless, those unaccustomed to the heat, and those who do not take proper precautions. If you work or spend time outside, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Wear light weight and loose-fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency; call 911. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Cooling stations are available in Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, and Joshua Tree.
In addition to the extreme heat warning, the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District has issued an advisory that ozone levels Twentynine Palms exceed 100 on the Air Quality Index (AQI) today. AQI levels between 101 and 150 are considered unhealthful for sensitive individuals; therefore, the MDAQMD recommends people with lung disease, such as asthma, children, older adults and individuals who are active outdoors should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Ozone is the main component of photochemical smog which forms in the sun, usually on hot summer days. When present in the air we breathe, ozone can cause serious health problems, including breathing difficulty, asthma attacks and lung damage. The AQI focuses on health effects individuals may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air.
Real-time AQI levels as measured at the MDAQMD’s seven air monitoring stations are available on the District’s website at www.mdaqmd.ca.gov
The forecasted AQI is also available to the public via EnviroFlash, the MDAQMD’s automated air quality forecast service. To sign up to receive daily forecasts via email, Twitter or cell phone, visit http://mdaqmd.enviroflash.org/.
See our previous story on extreme heat and cooling centers:
https://www.z1077fm.com/extreme-heat-continues-cooling-centers-open-29-palms-extends-hours/
