A public health warning has been issued across the Coachella Valley due to harmful levels of airborne particle pollution from windblown dust, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).
The alert arrives just ahead of the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and urges residents and visitors to limit outdoor activity across Indio, Palm Springs, La Quinta and nearby cities.
Why It Matters
The air quality alert is in effect from 2 p.m. Wednesday through 8 p.m. Thursday. South Coast AQMD has warned that on Thursday, air quality could become unhealthy for sensitive groups at times.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, one of the largest outdoor festivals in the country, begins its second weekend on Friday, April 18. Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on Indio for performances by headliners Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone and Travis Scott.
What To Know
While the alert is set to be lifted Thursday night, it could be extended if current conditions persist.
The Air Quality Index (AQI), developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), measures air pollution on a scale from 0 to 500:
- 0–50 (Green): Good – Air quality is satisfactory.
- 51–100 (Yellow): Moderate – Acceptable, with potential concerns for sensitive individuals.
- 101–150 (Orange): Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups – Affects people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and pregnant individuals.
- 151–200 (Red): Unhealthy – Everyone may begin to experience health effects.
- 201–300 (Purple): Very Unhealthy – Triggers health warnings of emergency conditions.
- 301–500 (Maroon): Hazardous – Serious risk to the entire population.
According to the South Coast AQMD, particle pollution levels during the day on Thursday are expected to fluctuate between green and orange levels, meaning residents and visitors should reduce or avoid prolonged outdoor exertion depending on conditions.
Amy Harris/Invision/AP
What People Are Saying
A South Coast AQMD spokesperson previously told Newsweek: “Windblown dust events in the Coachella Valley are common during this time of year due to strong winds that affect the region.”
The air quality alert said: “Particle pollution can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as asthma attacks, heart and lung disease symptoms, and increased risk of lung infections. Everyone can be affected, but sensitive groups such as people with lung or heart disease, older adults, people who are pregnant, children, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are at greater risk.”
What Happens Next
South Coast AQMD said updates will be issued should conditions evolve.