Anchorage Daily News

Anchorage's health department issued an advisory this afternoon that dust particulates in the air in Anchorage and Eagle River are approaching unhealthful levels as glacier silt blows in from the Valley.

The advisory recommends that people with heart and lung ailments avoid dusty areas and those with severe lung diseases remain indoors.

In the Valley, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough warned residents today that air quality in the Palmer area has become unhealthy to very unhealthy and will continue to be bad until the wind subsides.

The air is so unhealthy in the Palmer area that the borough is advising children, the elderly and people with heart or lung disease to stay indoors and reduce physical activity. Others should avoid vigorous outdoor activity, the Mat-Su Borough warned.

High winds in the Valley are responsible for the unhealthy air quality in both Anchorage and the Valley. The winds are kicking up glacial silt from the Matanuska River drainage, says the National Weather Service.

The high winds in the Valley are forecast to continue through 5 a.m. Saturday. Winds of 30 to 50 mph were expected in the Valley tonight, with gusts to 75 mph.

The Valley dust first blew into Anchorage on Thursday. It created a haze that obscured the mountains, as well as being hard on breathing.

The dust levels have been increasing this afternoon, said Anchorage air quality manager Steve Morris. Air in Eagle River and Chugiak is worse than in the Anchorage Bowl. But it's all either close to unhealthy or unhealthy.

For updates on the air quality in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, call 352-3878. In Anchorage, call 343-4899.

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