Haze over Memphis? Saharan dust, wildfire smoke affecting air quality

Memphis has experienced some extreme heat this week and thanks to wildfires and Saharan dust, the Mid-South is also seeing some air quality impacts.

On Thursday, Memphis was under a code orange air quality alert , meaning air quality values were unhealthy for the elderly, children and those with heart/lung conditions. The alert was prompted by excessive heat, combined with wildfire smoke and Saharan dust, is bringing down the air quality across the state of Tennessee.

Here is what to know about the poor air quality in Tennessee.

What is causing poor air quality in Tennessee?

In short, wildfires and dust are affecting the air quality in the Volunteer state. Smoke from the wildfires in Colorado and Wyoming has been pushed towards the eastern part of the country. Along with the smoke, dust from the Sahara Desert that crossed through the Caribbean to make its way into the southern United States.

These two factors have contributed to the lessening of the air quality in parts of Tennessee.

Where can I check the air quality score?

You can check the air quality by either simply searching for it or going to airnow.gov .

As of Friday morning, Memphis remains in the orange zone with a score of 125, meaning children, elderly and those with heart or lung conditions should exercise caution when outside for long periods of time.

How is air quality measured?

Air quality is measured on the Air Quality Index , or AQI. The index was created by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1999. Air quality alerts, or AQAs, are issued when the AQI reaches above 50. Above 50, certain groups are more vulnerable to the air than others.

Here is the scale for the AQI:

• Green is 0 to 50: Air quality is satisfactory and poses little to no risk.
• Yellow is 51 to 100: Air quality is acceptable but may be a risk for some people particularly those sensitive to air pollution.
• Orange is 101 to 150: Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, but the general public is less likely to be affected.
• Red is 151 to 200: Some members of the general public may experience health effects.
• Purple is 201 to 300: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
• Maroon is 301 to 500: These are emergency conditions where everyone is more likely to be affected.

When conditions are yellow or higher, the groups referred to as being at risk include the elderly, children and those with heart or lung conditions.

Heat advisory for Memphis

Along with the low air quality, Memphis is under a heat advisory, which is contributing to the low air quality. Outdoor and indoor air pollution, airborne allergens, disastrous weather, and warmer temperatures are all things that affect the air quality.

Over the past week, Memphis has been under either a heat advisory or an excessive heat warning every day, and Friday is no exception. Memphis will be under a heat advisory until about 7 p.m. Aug. 2. The high is 94 degrees and the heat index is expected to reach 103 degrees.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Haze over Memphis? Saharan dust, wildfire smoke affecting air quality