{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.e747a738900bf9f1a3f71cfb88df7b048f6e9295.002.1","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.e747a738900bf9f1a3f71cfb88df7b048f6e9295.002.1","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":201,"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:** Fairfax; Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria; Western Loudoun; Eastern Loudoun; Northwest Prince William; Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park\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 Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a\nCode ORANGE Air Quality Alert Saturday for\nNorthern 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\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\nsensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children, people\nsuffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and\nthe elderly. 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"}