Smoke drifting from regional wildfires are creating hazy conditions in Rapid City today, prompting city officials to remind residents to monitor local air quality conditions online.
As of 7:15 a.m., the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Rapid City registered 60, a “Moderate” rating. Officials advised people who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution to consider reducing outdoor activity or shortening time spent outside.
Residents can access hourly AQI updates through links on the City of Rapid City’s homepage at www.rcgov.org, located in the Community Bookmark and “What’s News In The City” sections. The AQI uses a color-coded scale ranging from 0 to 500 to indicate air quality conditions.
The city’s AQI links direct users to AirNow, a national air quality information service that provides current conditions, regional air quality maps, pollutant information and health recommendations. AirNow is a partnership involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state, tribal and local air quality agencies.
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