India, April 19 -- The National Weather Service (NWS) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) have issued a public health warning for the Coachella Valley owing to dangerously high levels of airborne particle pollution from windblown dust.

Visitors as well as residents are urged to minimize outdoor activities in Indio, Palm Springs, La Quinta, and the surrounding areas per the notice, which comes just before the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

The NWS issued an air quality alert for Coachella Valley at 12:22 pm on Thursday, which would last until midnight on Saturday, April 19.

"The South Coast AQMD has extended an air quality alert due to harmful levels of particle pollution from wind...