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On the Air Quality Indicator Scale, Thanksgiving Forecasted as a Code Red Day

The snow-covered slopes of Sugar Mountain are barely visible in this photo taken today on Wednesday. Photo by Ken Ketchie
The snow-covered slopes of Sugar Mountain are barely visible in this photo taken today on Wednesday. Photo by Ken Ketchie

Code Red on Thanksgiving, Unhealthy Air Outside

By Jesse Wood

The smoke from the wildfires is affecting the air quality. Today in the High Country was a Code Orange day, which is particularly “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” like children, the elderly and those with lung and heart disease.

But Thanksgiving Day will be a Code Red day, according to the N.C. Air Quality Forecast Center. 

Code Red means: “Children, active people, older adults, and those with heart or lung disease (like asthma) [should] avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Everyone else: limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.”

The N.C. Air Quality Forecast Center updates the following day’s forecast at 3 p.m. each day. Click the link above for more information. See images below.

Click here to read an advisory from the local health department and recent updates on the Horton Fire in Watauga County. 

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