Code Orange alert issued for Triangle

A Code Orange alert has been issued for today in the Triangle, meaning air quality may be potentially dangerous for people with chronic illnesses, children, the elderly and outdoor laborers.

The state Department of Environmental and Natural Resources in Raleigh issued the alert for Wake, Durham, Chatham, Orange, Johnston, Franklin, Person, Granville and Vance counties.

The heat and calm winds are major causes of the poor air quality, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Gail Hartfield.

And there's no end in sight to the hot temperatures.

Today's high is expected to reach 90 to 93 degrees, Hartfield said, while Wednesday's high is likely to be in the mid-90s.

Hartfield said it's unlikely the Triangle with see anything but 90-plus high temperatures for the next several days.

"And summer just started, so yahoo," she said.