Las Vegas Valley faces dust advisory as cooler weather arrives

Cooler temperatures headed for the Las Vegas Valley are also coming with strong winds that have prompted an air quality alert.

Clark County’s Division of Air Quality announced a dust advisory from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday with sustained winds ranging from 25 to 40 mph expected to pass through the valley. County officials have advised residents and construction sites to take precautions.

“Airborne dust is a form of inhalable air pollution called particulate matter or PM, which aggravates respiratory diseases. Under windy conditions people 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,” Clark County Department of Environment & Sustainability said in a news release. “Consult your physician if you have a medical condition that makes you sensitive to air pollution.”

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index visualizes air quality data into a colored chart with scores from 0-500. Tuesday’s winds could bring AQI levels above 100, which poses risks for unhealthy and sensitive groups.

Tips to limit exposure to dust

The county issued the following tips to limit exposure to dust:

— Limit outdoor exertion on windy days when dust is in the air.

— Keep windows and doors closed.

— Run your air conditioner inside your house and car to filter out particulates.

— Consider changing your indoor air filters if they are dirty.

— To keep dust down, drive slowly on unpaved roads.

— Don’t take short cuts across vacant lots.

— Ride off-road vehicles in approved areas outside the urban Las Vegas Valley.

Call Environment and Sustainability’s dust complaint hotline at 702-385-DUST (3878) to report excessive amounts of blowing dust from construction sites, vacant lots or facilities.