The National Weather Service is calling for partly cloudy skies today in the Richmond area with a high near 96 degrees.

And the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a code orange air-quality alert for the region from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Code orange means air pollution may become unhealthy for certain sensitive groups, including children, the elderly and people suffering from asthma, heart disease or lung diseases.

The weather service is calling for a chance of thunderstorms tonight before the high backs off a bit, to about 94 tomorrow and then 90 on Thursday.

Looking ahead, the weather service says the highs should be in the upper 80s starting Friday and lasting through the weekend.