258
AEUS72 KCAE 222117
AQACAE
AIR QUALITY ALERT MESSAGE
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
517 PM EDT WED APR 22 2026
GAZ064-065-SCZ018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-135>137-240000-
COLUMBIA-RICHMOND-MCCORMICK-NEWBERRY-FAIRFIELD-KERSHAW-EDGEFIELD-
SALUDA-LEXINGTON-RICHLAND-LEE-AIKEN-SUMTER-BARNWELL-CALHOUN-
CLARENDON-BAMBERG-NORTHWESTERN ORANGEBURG-CENTRAL ORANGEBURG-
SOUTHEASTERN ORANGEBURG-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF MARTINEZ, EVANS, AUGUSTA, MCCORMICK,
CLARKS HILL, NEWBERRY, WINNSBORO, WINNSBORO MILLS, CAMDEN, LUGOFF,
ELGIN, EDGEFIELD, JOHNSTON, MURPHYS ESTATES, SALUDA, RIDGE SPRING,
SEVEN OAKS, WEST COLUMBIA, CAYCE, LEXINGTON, RED BANK, OAK GROVE,
BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, COLUMBIA, BISHOPVILLE, AIKEN, NORTH AUGUSTA,
SUMTER, BARNWELL, WILLISTON, BLACKVILLE, ST. MATTHEWS, MANNING,
SUMMERTON, BAMBERG, DENMARK, NORTH, SPRINGFIELD, NEESES, ORANGEBURG,
BROOKDALE, HOLLY HILL, BOWMAN, BRANCHVILLE, ELLOREE, SANTEE,
AND EUTAWVILLE
517 PM EDT WED APR 22 2026
..AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THURSDAY
THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (SCDES) HAS
ISSUED A CODE ORANGE AIR QUALITY ALERT FOR FINE PARTICULATES FOR THE
CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER, CENTRAL MIDLANDS, AND PORTIONS OF THE PEE DEE
REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. A CODE ORANGE AIR
QUALITY ALERT MEANS THAT THE FINE PARTICULATE CONCENTRATIONS WITHIN
THE SPECIFIED AREAS MAY APPROACH OR EXCEED UNHEALTHY STANDARDS FOR
INDIVIDUALS SENSITIVE TO PARTICLE POLLUTION.
SOUTHERLY WINDS ON THE WEST SIDE OF HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED JUST OFF
THE SOUTHEAST COAST WILL CONTINUE TO TRANSPORT SMOKE FROM THE
SOUTHERN GEORGIA WILDFIRES INTO SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE CENTRAL
SAVANNAH RIVER AREA (CSRA). AS OF THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS
WEDNESDAY, AIR QUALITY WAS ALREADY DETERIORATING OVER THE CSRA AND
MIDLANDS REGIONS. AS STABLE CONDITIONS DEVELOP TONIGHT, SMOKE IS
EXPECTED TO EXPAND IN COVERAGE AND BECOME NOTICEABLE. SMOKE FROM THE
WILDFIRES IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE REGION ON THURSDAY.
SCDES RECOMMENDS THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH RESPIRATORY HEALTH ISSUES
LIMIT TIME SPEND OUTDOORS AND/OR MOVE ALL ACTIVITIES INDOORS TO AVOID
THE SMOKE OR FINE PARTICULATES. KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED. RUN
AN AIR CONDITIONER IF YOU HAVE ONE BUT KEEP THE FRESH-AIR INTAKE
CLOSED AND THE FILTER CLEAN TO PREVENT OUTDOOR SMOKE AND FINE
PARTICULATES FROM GETTING INSIDE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FINE PARTICULATES, PLEASE VISIT:
HTTPS://FIRE.AIRNOW.GOV
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WILDFIRES/PRESCRIBED BURNS, PLEASE VISIT:
HTTPS://WWW.SCFC.GOV/
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