{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.e747a738900bf9f1a3f71cfb88df7b048f6e9295.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 4:40PM 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.e747a738900bf9f1a3f71cfb88df7b048f6e9295.001.1","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":188,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 4:40PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC\n\n**Severity:** Unknown\n**Certainty:** Unknown\n**Urgency:** Unknown\n**Areas:** District of Columbia\n**Issued by:** NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC\n**Sent:** 2026-07-17T16:51:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-17T16:40:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-19T00:00:00-04:00\n\n## Description\nThe Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and District\nDepartment of Environment has issued a Code ORANGE Air Quality\nAlert Saturday for\nthe District of Columbia.\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\nCode Purple and Code Red Air Quality Alerts mean that air pollution\nconcentrations within the region are unhealthy to very unhealthy for\nthe general population.\n\nA Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution\nconcentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive\ngroups. Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from\nasthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly. The\neffects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous\nactivity or exercise outdoors.\n\nFor more information on ground-level ozone\nand fine particles visit the web site\nhttps://www.mwcog.org/environment/air/forecast/"}