The Ministry of Environment yesterday warned of poor air quality today, with much of Taiwan entering an “orange alert,” meaning the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Outlying islands could today temporarily enter a “red alert,” meaning air quality is unhealthy for the general public, it added.
A belt of PM2.5 smog — fine particulate matter 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller — was observed moving from Jinan to Shanghai in China from Wednesday until yesterday, the ministry said in a statement.
Photo: CNA
Due to strong northeasterly winds starting today, the pollutants blowing in from China would first affect air quality in the outlying islands, then move to central and southern areas, and eventually reach the northern region, it said.
The smog observed on Wednesday had an estimated hourly PM2.5 concentration of between 80 and 150 micrograms per cubic meter. That could today cause hourly PM2.5 concentrations of 30 to 45 micrograms per cubic meter in the north, while it could reach 50 to 60 in outlying islands, it said.
The ministry estimates that from tomorrow afternoon, pollutant levels would slowly decrease for Hsinchu County, Miaoli County and the northern region, but due to milder winds in the southern region, pollutants would continue to accumulate and the area would remain under an orange alert, it added.
Strong winds in the midwestern coastal regions could cause flying dust, the ministry said, advising residents to be aware of changes in air quality when leaving the house.
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