Tens of Thousands In California Told To Stay Indoors

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Tens of thousands of people in southern California were advised to remain indoors as "emergency" air quality conditions hit parts of the Coachella Valley on Friday.

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) AirNow map, which provides a real-time snapshot of air quality, showed that air pollution levels around Cathedral City and Thousands Palms were "very unhealthy" to "hazardous" on Friday morning.

The warnings meant that the risk of negative health effects from air pollution was increased for everyone, not just vulnerable populations.

Air pollution and extreme heat pose significant health risks to the general public, in particular for the young, seniors and vulnerable populations such as those with underlying respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

The EPA warned that the air pollution levels today could have led to serious health issues, including reduced lung function, severe respiratory symptoms including chest pain and aggravated coughs, and increased hospital admissions.

The AirNow Map showed a maroon warning, the highest category, for Cathedral City, which has a population of more than 50,000 people.

A "hazardous" maroon warning means that pollution levels are of "emergency conditions," and that "everyone is more likely to be affected," the AirNow website says.

A "very unhealthy" purple warning, the second highest category, covered Desert Edge, Sky Valley, Thousand Palms and Sunair. AirNow said the risk of health effects were "increased for everyone" in these areas.

Meanwhile, red warnings were also in force in the Coachella Valley in Rancho Mirage and parts of Palm Desert, along with a large area along the California-Arizona border including Yuma.

Red warnings mean that "some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects."

The alerts were later downgraded to yellow on the Air Quality Index, which means: "Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution."