CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW)- The air quality in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area is continuing to worsen, mirroring conditions across the east coast of the United States as the ripple effects of wildfires in Canada cause hazy conditions. 

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a code red alert for the area around Richmond (which includes the Albemarle County and Charlottesville region) for Friday. Code Red conditions, according to DEQ, warn that strenuous outdoor activity should be avoided altogether, especially by those with heart and lung diseases, such as asthma. 

DEQ has rated the Winchester area at Code Purple, the highest possible severity of pollution in the air.  

The U.S. Air Quality Index, supervised by the Environmental Protection Agency, monitors air quality on a 0-300 scale, with 0 being the cleanest possible air and 300+ describing hazardous conditions for anyone going outside.   

Charlottesville-Albemarle, according to the area AccuWeather forecast, is expected to exceed 200 beginning at 10am, entering code purple conditions, and not lowering 8am Saturday at the earliest. The 200-plus mark on AQI is the level at which health risks increase for everyone, with sensitive health conditions or not.  Healthy individuals are likely to experience difficulty breathing and are advised to avoid outdoor activity entirely. 

AccuWeather meteorologist Jason Katerina, speaking on WINA Morning News Friday morning, advised everyone in the area going outside for extended periods of time to wear a protective mask.