|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Spare the Air Alert for Tuesday due to high temperatures and light winds expected to persist in the region.
It’s the third alert issued so far for excessive smog accumulation during the district’s summer Spare the Air season that started in April. The first two were for Sunday and Monday.
Temperatures approaching or exceeding 100 degrees have been reported through much of the Bay Area Sunday and Monday, and possible triple-digit temperatures are also being forecast for Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory in effect on Tuesday from 10 a.m. through 9 p.m. for the San Francisco Bay shoreline where temperatures are estimated to climb up to 95 degrees. Palo Alto, which is included in the heat advisory, is expected to have temperatures in the mid-90s Tuesday.
While Monday’s high temperatures didn’t break any records in Palo Alto, it met or surpassed other record highs around the Bay Area, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Spencer Tangen. Redwood City reached a high of 101 degrees Monday, tying with the 1994 record. The San Francisco International Airport reached a high of 100 degrees, breaking the 1994 record.
During the days when a Spare the Air alert are issued, the air district encourages people to find alternatives to driving alone and advises people to limit their outdoor activities because of the smog, or ozone, levels in the region.
Ozone pollution can cause throat and chest problems and is particularly harmful for young children, seniors and those with respiratory or heart conditions, according to the district.
There is no wood burning ban in place, as there is during Winter Spare the Air days, and no free transit will be offered in the region.
People can find out when a Spare the Air alert is in effect by visiting sparetheair.org, calling 800-HELP-AIR (4357-247), downloading the Spare the Air smartphone app for iPhone or Android devices or connecting with Spare the Air on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
We all need to remember to Turn Off our cars whenever we are stopped. Just buckle up and get ready before you turn on the motor. Turn off your motor as soon as you’re parked — no reading email, listening to the radio, and definitely no sleeping in your car with the motor running (no, I’m not kidding). If you have to wait for someone while they run in the store, just turn it off. If it’s hot, go inside or sit in the shade and relax. We can all get better at reducing our air pollution.