The Maryland Department of the Environment has issued a Code ORANGE Air Quality Alert Wednesday for Northeast Maryland. A Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors. For more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles visit the web site mde.maryland.gov/programs/air/AirQualityMonitoring/Pages/index.aspx.

* WHAT. Dangerous rip currents expected. * WHERE. Eastern Monmouth, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic and Coastal Ocean. * WHEN. From Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

* WHAT. For the first Small Craft Advisory, south winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt expected. For the second Small Craft Advisory, south winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt expected. * WHERE. Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island MD, Patapsco River including Baltimore Harbor, Chester River to Queenstown MD, Eastern Bay, Choptank River to Cambridge MD and the Little Choptank River, Patuxent River to Broomes Island MD and Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth Island. * WHEN. For the first Small Craft Advisory, until 6 AM EDT Wednesday. For the second Small Craft Advisory, from noon Wednesday to 1 AM EDT Thursday. * IMPACTS. Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

* WHAT. Heat index values up to 102 degrees expected. * WHERE. Portions of northern Delaware, central, northern, and southern New Jersey, and southeast Pennsylvania. * WHEN. From 9 AM to 9 PM EDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.

* WHAT. Southwest winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 3 to 6 ft expected. * WHERE. Coastal waters from Sandy Hook to Manasquan Inlet NJ out 20 nm, Coastal waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out 20 nm, Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 nm and Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 nm. * WHEN. From 8 PM this evening to 6 AM EDT Thursday. * IMPACTS. Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.