CALIFORNIA — More than 50,000 Southern California residents are being urged to stay indoors this weekend as hazardous air quality and extreme heat combine to create a dangerous environment, particularly across the Coachella Valley.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a “maroon” alert — the highest level on the AirNow index — for Cathedral City, signaling emergency air conditions that pose serious health risks to everyone, not just sensitive groups.
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- 1 Surrounding Areas Also Affected
- 2 Health Risks and What to Watch For
- 3 What’s Behind the Alert?
- 4 EPA Safety Guidance
- 5 Stay Informed
Surrounding Areas Also Affected
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“Very unhealthy” (purple warnings): Desert Edge, Sky Valley, Thousand Palms, and Sunair
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“Unhealthy” (red warnings): Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and regions along the California-Arizona border
“This is not just about sensitive groups anymore,” the EPA warned. “Everyone is more likely to be affected at these levels.”
Health Risks and What to Watch For
Authorities say the dangerous mix of PM2.5 particles and high temperatures can cause:
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Chest pain
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Aggravated coughing
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Shortness of breath
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Decreased lung function
Hospital admissions tend to spike under such conditions, and healthy adults are not exempt from the risks.
What’s Behind the Alert?
This hazardous air quality is driven by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — microscopic particles that can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.
“There are very clear links between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases,” noted Jonathan Grigg, a professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary University of London.
EPA Safety Guidance
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Avoid all outdoor physical activity
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Keep windows and doors closed
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Use air purifiers if available
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Do not burn candles, smoke, or do anything that worsens indoor air quality
Stay Informed
Residents are strongly encouraged to check the latest updates and health guidance at airnow.gov and follow all local emergency alerts throughout the weekend.
With conditions expected to remain dangerous, staying indoors and minimizing activity is the safest choice.
