Air Quality Alert Issued Today For West Rapid City
An air quality alert has been issued for Rapid City, west of The Gap.
(City File Photo/Darrell Shoemaker)
AIR QUALITY ALERT ISSUED TODAY
FOR WEST RAPID CITY
Alert effective from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
RAPID CITY, SD--An air pollution alert for dust has been issued for Rapid City, west of The Gap, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. today. The alert was issued overnight by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources and relayed by the National Weather Service.
The City's Air Quality Office recommends the elderly, young and anyone with respiratory problems to avoid excessive physical exertion and exposure to the outside air during the alert. Northwest winds will increase near midday to 20 to 35 miles per hour with gusts to around 45 miles per hour. The alert indicates winds will gradually subside after sunset..
The gusty winds will suspend fine dust in the air over west Rapid City, producing poor air quality.
Voluntary actions to reduce dust pollution include ceasing or reducing the manipulation of soil in construction, industrial and agricultural activities, and increasing the use of pollution controls for soil stabilization, waste pits, stock piles and construction sites.
Hourly dust concentrations are available on the South Dakota Department of Energy and Natural Resources' web page: http://denr.sd.gov/des/aq/aarealtime.aspx