NWS: Air Quality Advisory Issued, Severe Weather Possible Today

Smoke from the Canadian wildfires will push toward Cincinnati this morning

(Wilmington, Oh.) - An Air Quality Advisory is in effect for some local counties, while the entire tri-state area is subject to potential showers and thunderstorms today. 

According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Hamilton County, Ohio; Boone and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County, Indiana. 

The advisory is in effect until midnight. 

Fine particulate levels are expected to be in the `Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups` range. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exposure.

Additionally, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a statewide Air Quality Advisory for the entire state of Ohio as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to adversely impact air quality. Pollutants across the state are expected to range from the `Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups` category in the southwest part of the state to the `Unhealthy` category in the rest of the state. Hourly concentrations at times may reach the `Very Unhealthy` to `Hazardous` categories.

It is recommended, when possible, to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory conditions like asthma. Watch for symptoms including wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in the nose, throat, and eyes.

In addition, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and continue into this evening. A few strong to severe storms will be possible with damaging wind the main threat. The storms will be capable of producing very heavy rainfall, leading to the potential for localized flash flooding.  

Showers and thunderstorms will move south across the region Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening. Some severe storms will be possible with damaging wind the primary threat.