ST. LOUIS (KMOX) — The air quality in St. Louis has reached an "unhealthy" level on this muggy Friday morning after a night filled with firework smoke in the area.
The warning comes from AirNow, which takes air quality measurements and information from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Today's forecast says, "people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion."
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in St. Louis is 174, compared to a typical St. Louis summer morning that has an AQI around 50.
Air quality is mostly fine in Iowa this morning. Different story in St. Louis though -- pic.twitter.com/XSHzeosND9
— Taylor Kanost (@WxKanost) July 5, 2019Current Air Quality for St. Louis (Metro-east), IL: At 7 AM CDT Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) reached Unhealthy
— Illinois Air Quality (@IL_AirQuality) July 5, 2019Not until the AQI reached a level of 300 or higher will the air quality be so hazardous that everyone may experience serious effects.
The poor air quality is mainly due to a night of big fireworks shows and some personal 4th of July celebrations. Besides well-attended shows in downtown and across the Metro area like at Fair St. Louis and Webster Groves, there was a lot of action in neighborhoods.
Related: WATCH: Onloookers scramble after "rogue firework" explodes in Webster Groves crowd
In just the city of St. Louis, the St. Louis Fire Department received 53 calls for help because of fires started by fireworks. If that number holds, it's actually down from 83 reports of fires after Fourth of July celebrations last year. That includes the Macklind Avenue Deli, which burned to the ground as the result of fireworks.
A hazy morning in downtown #STL before day 2 of @FairSaintLouis. I'll tell you what you need to know in @kmoxnews at 6. pic.twitter.com/de2szrKLFP
— Brian Kelly (@Brpkelly) July 5, 2019Meanwhile, there were 277 calls to the St. Louis Police Department about fireworks, mostly due to noise complaints.
To read today's AQI forecast, click here.
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