Happy Independence Day! but try to stay cool
While many of you will be celebrating outdoors today, it’s going to be healthier to stay inside.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s air quality forecast for Northern Virginia for Saturday, July 4, is 209, which puts it in the “very unhealthy” category. (A “good” air quality index is 50 or less.)
The DEQ says people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children are most at risk and should “avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.”
The National Weather Service is predicting “dangerously hot conditions” for 10 a.m.-9 p.m. in the D.C. region on July 4, with heat index values of 110 to 115.
Related story: Wedgewood Apartments lack AC – again
The NWS urges people not to leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles, as “car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”
Check for cancellations before heading out. The Independence Day parades in the City of Fairfax and D.C. have been canceled.
Fairfax County has extended its Heat Plan through July 4 due to extreme heat.
When the Heat Plan is in effect, unsheltered residents or anyone who needs to cool off are invited to take advantage of cooling centers at rec centers, libraries, and community centers.
Libraries and community centers, however, are closed on July 4. Rec Centers, including Audrey Moore and Providence, are open today from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Three people showed up at Audrey Moore on Friday, including at least one person who said her air conditioner wasn’t working.
The Bailey’s Shelter, which serves single adults, suspended its policy of not accepting walk-ins during the county’s Heat Plan.
The shelter, located in Bailey’s Crossroads, opened its doors to 40 overflow individuals on July 1, 20 on July 2, and another 20 on July 3. The additional clients can spend the night.
Related story: County activates heat plan
Data centers are contributing to the heat and air pollution.
Earlier this week, Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed data centers in the mid-Atlantic region to use backup generators if they need to reduce pressure on the electric grid. Air conditioners running at full capacity, along with data centers’ insatiable demand for energy to power AI, could push the grid over the edge, causing brownouts or worse.
Data center generators emit significant amounts of harmful particulate matter and nitrogen oxides into the air, which pose severe public health risks, including cardiovascular illness, asthma triggers, and cancer for nearby residents.
Data centers have also been shown to create heat islands on the surrounding land. The heat used by data centers for computation and powering cooling systems has raised temperatures from 2 degrees to as much as 16 degrees in some places.