A Code Orange air quality alert will be in effect today (Wednesday) for the Birmingham metro area, or Jefferson and Shelby counties. It’s the second day in a row for a Code Orange alert for the area.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management said ground-level ozone concentrations are expected to reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Those sensitive groups are children and people with respiratory conditions. The general public is not expected to be affected.

Temperatures in the Birmingham area are again expected to reach the mid-90s today, and that combined with light winds may keep ozone-saturated air closer to ground level.

According to forecasters an area of high pressure centered to the west of the area will continue to build eastward. Temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s, mostly clear skies with only a few clouds, light surface winds and lower than usual humidity levels will all aid in ozone production.

According to AirNow, which is a partnership made up of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NOAA, National Park Service, NASA, Centers for Disease Control and local agencies, there will also be a thin layer of smoke from Canadian wildfires across the area.

Here’s the temperature forecast for Wednesday:

There are no other air quality alerts for the rest of Alabama.

Some tips from ADEM on air quality alert days:

* Conserve electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature.

* Limit driving and combine errands.

* Avoid use of gasoline power lawn and garden equipment.

* Refuel cars and trucks after 6 p.m.

* Limit engine idling.

For more information on what to do on an air quality alert day, visit airnow.gov