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Record-Breaking Temps Bring Air Quality Warning To Region

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- This weekend may be one for the books as the weather in the Philadelphia region may be the warmest on record for the month of December. But it also may be hazardous to some.

A warm air mass lingering in our region means temps will climb to 70 this weekend, breaking nearly 90-year-old temperature records, but could cause breathing problems for some.

CBS 3 Meteorologist Katie Fehlinger says we can blame El Nino.

"El Nino is, in short, just warmer water than average in the central Pacific. But what that can mean is just global weather pattern chaos sometimes. It can really have an impact," she says. "And it looks, at least at this point, it's not only going to last us a few days, but also into January."

The Pennsylvania Environmental Protection Agency has issued a Code Orange air quality warning for our five-county region, meaning kids, the elderly and people with breathing problems should limit outdoor activity as pollution particles remain stagnant in the air.

New Jersey is a step below at Code Yellow, meaning moderate levels of pollutants.

The EPA asks residents to limit burning wood, set thermostats to a lower temperature, and try to combine errands or carpool with others.

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