Austin, TX
Austin air quality one of most unhealthy measures in Texas amid dust, wildfire smoke
Fierce dust storm roars through New Mexico and Texas
The National Weather Service issued a blowing dust advisory for portions of New Mexico and Texas.
The air is thick out there.
With wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour Tuesday, dust particles were hitting eyes and tickling noses. Then the fires in Hays County started.
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday night, the air quality in Austin reached the unhealthy range and had one of the most unhealthy air quality measures in Texas, according to AirNow, which reports the official U.S. air quality. It’s a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service, NASA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and tribal, state and local air quality agencies.
What should you do if you go outside?
Air Now recommends people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens should:
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
- Keep outdoor activities short or reschedule activities or move them indoors.
For everyone else:
- Do less strenuous outdoor activities that don’t require heavy breathing.
- Shorten the amount of time outdoors.
- Be active when the air quality improves.
You also could consider taking measures as you would for allergies:
- Wear a mask outside.
- Change your clothes after being outside.
- Shower at night.
- Use a nasal rinse to get rid of the particles from the dust and smoke.