{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.e03066f1e8fcca5e01cf2f6e2f43bffb336b6efd.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 19 at 9:42AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-19","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.e03066f1e8fcca5e01cf2f6e2f43bffb336b6efd.001.1","accession_number":null,"cik":null,"ticker":null,"issuer_name":null,"edgar_url":null,"primary_entity_key":null,"primary_entity_name":"NWS Des Moines IA"},"word_count":215,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 19 at 9:42AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA\n\n**Severity:** Unknown\n**Certainty:** Unknown\n**Urgency:** Unknown\n**Areas:** Worth; Mitchell; Howard; Winneshiek; Allamakee; Cerro Gordo; Floyd; Chickasaw; Franklin; Butler; Bremer; Fayette; Clayton; Hardin; Grundy; Black Hawk; Buchanan; Delaware; Dubuque; Story; Marshall; Tama; Benton; Linn; Jones; Jackson; Polk; Jasper; Poweshiek; Iowa; Johnson; Cedar; Clinton; Muscatine; Scott; Warren; Marion; Mahaska; Keokuk; Washington; Louisa; Lucas; Monroe; Wapello; Jefferson; Henry; Des Moines; Wayne; Appanoose; Davis; Van Buren; Lee\n**Issued by:** NWS Des Moines IA\n**Sent:** 2026-07-19T09:42:00-05:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-19T09:42:00-05:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-20T11:00:00-05:00\n\n## Description\nThe Iowa DNR is issuing an Air Quality Alert for the eastern half\nof Iowa through 11am Monday.\n\nMonitors near Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Clinton,\nDavenport, and Muscatine are currently reporting hourly fine\nparticulates at concentrations the EPA considers unhealthy, due to\nsmoke. At this level, sensitive groups of people, as well as the\ngeneral public may experience health effects. Fine particulates\nnear or above EPA health standards are expected to persist and\nspread westward Monday.\n\nThe DNR recommends that sensitive people avoid long or intense\noutdoor activities, and consider rescheduling or moving activities\nindoors. Sensitive groups include people with respiratory illness\nor heart disease, older adults, children, teenagers, pregnant\nwomen, and outdoor workers. Everyone else should reduce long or\nintense activities and take more breaks during outdoor activities."}