* WHAT...THE SOUTH COAST AQMD HAS ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ALERT DUE TOHARMFUL LEVELS OF PARTICLE POLLUTION FROM WINDBLOWN DUST. VISIT HTTPS: WWW.AQMD.GOV ALERTINFO TO CHECK CURRENT AND FORECASTED AIR QUALITY LEVELS.

* WHERE...IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY. LEVELS OF PARTICLE POLLUTION CAN VARY BY TIME AND LOCATION DEPENDING ON EMISSIONS AND LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS.

* WHEN...UNTIL 11 AM SATURDAY.

* IMPACTS... 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.