HARTFORD — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is issuing an air quality alert most of Connecticut today. Litchfield County is the exception.

A smoke plume from the western wildfires that passed over Connecticut produced unhealthy fine particle (PM2.5) levels across the entire state on Monday, July 26. These fine particles became trapped in the lower atmosphere overnight and have been slow to disperse this morning.

DEEP is encouraging residents to limit outdoor activities today until 11 pm.

Until that time, fine particle levels will reach unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy levels throughout Connecticut — again, except Litchfield County — where levels will be high-moderate.

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens should take any of the following steps to reduce exposure:

*Avoid strenuous outdoor activities;

*Keep outdoor activities short; and

*Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.

All state residents are advised to take any of the following steps to reduce their exposure:

*Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) to reduce strenuous breathing;

*Shorten the amount of active outdoor time; and

*Be active outdoors when air quality is better.

For more information on air quality, including DEEP’s daily Air Quality Index, go here.

Additional information is available at portal.ct.gov/deep, on Facebook at CTDEEP, and on Twitter at @CTDEEPNews.