{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.99030a905f472b0975b69c14ca0a3097d3f8b25a.002.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 7:54PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-17","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.99030a905f472b0975b69c14ca0a3097d3f8b25a.002.1","accession_number":null,"cik":null,"ticker":null,"issuer_name":null,"edgar_url":null,"primary_entity_key":null,"primary_entity_name":"NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC"},"word_count":187,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 7:54PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC\n\n**Severity:** Unknown\n**Certainty:** Unknown\n**Urgency:** Unknown\n**Areas:** Augusta; Rockingham; Shenandoah; Page; Warren; Nelson; Albemarle; Greene; Madison; Rappahannock; Orange; Culpeper; Stafford; Spotsylvania; King George; Northern Fauquier; Southern Fauquier; Western Highland; Eastern Highland; Northern Virginia Blue Ridge; Central Virginia Blue Ridge\n**Issued by:** NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC\n**Sent:** 2026-07-17T19:54:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-17T19:54:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-19T00:00:00-04:00\n\n## Description\nThe Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a\nCode PURPLE Air Quality Alert Friday for\nNorthwestern and Central Virginia.\n\nConcentrations of fine particulate matter due to wildfire smoke will\npersist at levels consistent with an Air Quality Index of Unhealthy\n(Red Alert) to Very Unhealthy (Purple Alert) Friday night into\nSaturday morning. Air quality begins to improve Saturday afternoon.\n\nA Code Purple Air Quality Alert means that air pollution\nconcentrations within the region are very unhealthy for the\ngeneral population. The risk of health effects is increased\nfor everyone. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by\navoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.\n\nFor more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles\nvisit the web site Virginia DEQ air quality web site at\nwww.deq.virginia.gov"}