A windblown dust advisory was issued Saturday in the Coachella Valley due to expected gusts of 40 to 50 mph in the area from Sunday to Monday.
The advisory was going in effect from 4 p.m. Sunday until at least 11:59 p.m. Monday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District announced.
On Sunday, air quality index levels were expected to reach the unhealthy category or higher. By Monday morning, wind speeds were expected to decrease, dropping the region to moderate AQI levels, the agency said. By Monday evening, unhealthy or higher AQI’s were expected again due to wind speeds increasing after 3 p.m.
For those in impacted areas, officials advised the following:
— Limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or seeking alternate shelter;
— Avoid vigorous physical activity;
— Run your air conditioning and/or an air purifier and if possible, do not use swamp coolers or whole house fans that bring in outside air;
— Help minimize dust pollution by stabilizing loose soils and slowing down if driving on dirt roads.
Updates on air quality information by area are available at aqmd.gov/AQImap.