‘Spare the Air’ days Friday, Saturday. Sacramento air quality officials urge some to stay indoors

Air quality managers in the Sacramento region said that Friday and Saturday would be the third and fourth “Spare the Air” day in 2021 — triggered as triple-digit temperatures begin to heat up the capital region.

An air-quality index reading of 150 is expected Friday for the Sacramento region, officials at the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District said. Saturday’s AQI is forecast to be 133. Alerts are issued when the AQI is forecast to be 126 or higher, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The AQI was recorded as 164 on Thursday, officials said in a Friday update.

The advisory, which includes air districts for El Dorado, Placer and Yolo counties — asks residents to cut back on driving and other activities that contribute to pollution. They also encourage people to take their morning exercise routine earlier than they normally would, work from home and use ridesharing and public transit to get around.

Those with respiratory health conditions, such as asthma or COPD, also should limit their outdoor exposure.

The region had two alerts issued last month in back-to-back days after a record-breaking heat wave. This compares to the single Spare the Air day in 2020.

National Weather Service forecasts show temperatures around Sacramento reaching 110 degrees or more by Saturday. The weather service also has an excessive heat warning in place from noon Friday to 9 p.m. Monday for most of the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevada foothills.

The weather service’s Sacramento office said there’s a high chance of heat stress or illnesses to people or animals and is advising people to avoid outdoor strenuous activities from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This story was originally published July 8, 2021 at 1:19 PM.