Air quality alert issued for Columbia area due to wildfires in Georgia
An air quality alert has been issued in the Columbia area Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
The alert, issued by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, will go into effect at 10 a.m. The air quality alert is scheduled to run until 8 p.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service said.
The alert is being issued because wildfire smoke coming from fires in Georgia will create unhealthy ozone in the air Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Smoke from the Georgia wildfires has been visible in the Midlands and across South Carolina for days, but stagnant high pressure — resulting in low humidity and very warm temperatures — is now causing the air quality to suffer, the National Weather Service said.
“There is already a considerable level of pollutants in the atmosphere,” National Weather Service meteorologists said in the alert.
In addition to Richland County and Lexington County, other areas in the Midlands included in the air quality alert are Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Newberry, Saluda and Sumter, according to the National Weather Service.
Fine particulate concentrations might approach or exceed unhealthy standards, according to the S.C. Department of Environmental Services.
The areas included in the alert are in the orange zone, meaning the air quality is forecast to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, the National Weather Service said. That includes people with lung disease, older adults and children, according to the alert. Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, and do less intense activities, especially during afternoon and early evening hours, the National Weather Service said.
Additionally, Midlands residents are encouraged to limit time outdoors, keep windows and doors closed as well as run air conditioning units on recirculate, according to the S.C. Department of Environmental Services.
“Please use caution if you are sensitive to changes in air quality!” the National Weather Service said.
Something all South Carolina residents are told not to do is start any controlled fires. That’s because a statewide burn ban was issued by the South Carolina Forestry Commission last Friday, and remains in effect.
“The statewide burning ban is helping to limit wildfire ignitions,” the S.C. Forestry Commission said. The agency “implores the public to exercise patience, restraint and vigilance as the current statewide burning ban continues. Please do not burn outdoors, and use extreme caution operating any equipment that could create sparks, avoid parking on dry grass and refrain from using fireworks.”
Droughtlike conditions across South Carolina have made the state more vulnerable to wildfires and poor air quality. Since Jan. 1, a mere 6.03 inches of precipitation has been recorded in Columbia, which is the driest start to a year since 1911, the National Weather Service said.
Some relief is in the weekend forecast. While Friday is also expected to be a sunny and hot day, with a potential high temperature of 88 degrees, there’s a chance of rain showers in the Columbia area from later Saturday and overnight into Sunday, the forecast shows.
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 9:26 AM.
