The South Coast Air Quality Management District Friday extended an ozone advisory through Monday in multiple Southern California counties, including parts of Riverside County, due to the heat wave affecting the region.
Air quality index (AQI) levels were expected to reach a designation of “unhealthy for sensitive groups” earlier this week in Riverside County communities such as Lake Elsinore, Corona and Hemet, according to an AQMD statement, leading to the initial issuance of the advisory. Levels in Riverside, which already reached that status, could be just as extreme, the agency said Friday.
Levels in other areas, including cities in Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County, could also be classified as unhealthy, while inland parts of the South Coast Air Basin such as Glendora were likely to reach a “very unhealthy” designation.
The advisory initially went into effect at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A full map of the areas affected is available at www.aqmd.gov/AQImap.