Poor air quality due to high levels of ozone or particulate matter is a constant concern in the Central Valley, and affects sensitive groups such as the elderly, or children.

Bakersfield City School District strives to ensure student's and staff's safety by monitoring the air quality forecasts daily. They use unique way of notifying the staff and neighborhood of the air quality; by flying a colored flag each day according to the air quality forecast (Green=good, Yellow=moderate, Orange=unhealthy for sensitive groups, Red=Unhealthy for all). 

Residents 23ABC spoke with today mentioned they've witnessed first hand how the poor air quality can affect your health. Steven Fisher told 23ABC "I lived in Vegas for 3 years, and once we moved here, within a year, she [referring to his daughter] had asthma, and wasn't diagnosed at first but she had breathing problems". 

The San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District forecasts the air quality daily, across the entire San Joaquin Valley, by county. You can monitor the air quality yourself by clicking here.