Frederick-Carroll-Northwest Montgomery-Northwest Howard- 1047 AM EDT Thu Apr 24 2025 ...AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR THURSDAY APRIL 24 2025... The Maryland Department of the Environment has issued a Code ORANGE Air Quality Alert Thursday for the Maryland Piedmont region. A Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors. For more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles visit the web site mde.maryland.gov/programs/air/AirQualityMonitoring/Pages/index.aspx. The National Weather Service, Sterling, Va.