Code orange day (Greenville: air quality, health, quality)

[Northern Girl]

I look at weather.com alot to see the weather in Greenville and sometimes I see that there is a code orange air quality day issued from the health department. I was just wondering what this means and if it's a big concern for people with respiratory conditions or asthma?

Any information would be appreciated.

[RestedTraveler]

That air quality index is a forecast of ground-level ozone
Go to this site for details on what it means to sensitive individuals.

What typically happens in the upstate when prevailing winds are from the south or southeast is that stuff (dirty air, etc.) gets blown into and backed up against the escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains and sits here until winds change direction and it is pushed out again.

[Northern Girl]

Thanks! I'll check out the site.