Heat Wave Continues With Air Quality A Concern

The heat dome continues to blister the area with high temperatures and humidity.

The National Weather Service says that the Heat Advisory will remain in effect from 11am Thursday until Friday night at 7pm.

Meantime, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has issued an Air Quality Alert for nine counties across the state from now through 11pm tonight.

Ozone levels are expected to impact air quality tomorrow in eastern Hampden and Hampshire counties, southern Worcester County, southeast Middlesex County, eastern Essex County, and Norfolk, Suffolk, Plymouth and Bristol counties.

Air Quality is expected to be a health issue for sensitive groups, including people with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, older adults, children, teenagers, and people who are active outdoors. People with either lung disease or heart disease are at greater risk from exposure to air pollution.

State officials are asking people in those groups to reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, do less intense activities, follow asthma action plans, and keep quick relief medicine handy. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.

(Photo credit YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)