Cough, cough: Arizona thunderstorms ignite dust advisory for Las Vegas Valley

A particulate advisory has been issued for Southern Nevada contiguous due to winds from Arizona thunderstorms that produced particulate blowing into the region, Clark County said. The advisory, issued by the Clark County Environment & Sustainability’s Division of Air Quality, expires at midnight tonight. “Due to the changing upwind conditions, particulates are lingering longer than initially forecast, starring to the imaginable to transcend the EPA’s nationalist ambient aerial prime standards today,” Paul Fransioli, elder forecaster for the Division of Air Quality, said in a statement. “We volition proceed to show upwind conditions overnight and into the aboriginal greeting to find if we request to widen the advisory into Tuesday.” Clark County remains under a seasonal ozone and wildfire fume advisory, which is in effect until Sept. 30. Airborne particulate is a form of inhalable air pollution called particulate matter or PM, which aggravates respiratory diseases, the region said. Under windy conditions, individuals with heart or lung disease, older adults and children may feel better staying indoors as much as possible. They could be at greater risk from particulates, especially when they are physically active, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. — Limit outdoor exertion on windy days when particulate is in the air. — Keep windows and doors closed. — Run your air conditioner in your home and car to filter out particulates. — Consider changing your indoor air filters if they are dirty. — Don’t take shortcuts across vacant lots. — To keep particulate down, drive slowly on unpaved roads. — Ride off‑road vehicles in approved areas outside the municipal valley. Call the Environment and Sustainability’s particulate ailment hotline at 702-385-DUST (3878) to report excessive amounts of blowing particulate from construction sites, vacant lots or facilities.