Vog. For many in Hawaii a bad episode of volcanic smog can mean a miserable day of coughing, a runny nose, a sore throat and headaches.

But now there’s a new web portal where anyone who feels vulnerable — resident or visitor — can go for forecasts, advisories, information and advice.

Developed by a coalition of state, federal and private agencies, the Vog Dashboard website includes the latest scientific information about vog as well as some new recommendations for how to protect yourself.

The advice follows a three-month study conducted last year on Hawaii island by Claire Horwell, director of the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network and a researcher at Durham University in the United Kingdom.

“Providing relevant, up-to-date information to a population living with decades of an ongoing volcanic eruption may help people to better cope with the frequent vog conditions,” Horwell said.

Kilauea has been erupting now for 34 years straight. But when the Halemaumau vent erupted in 2008, the emissions shot up from an average of 2,000 tons a day to 10,000, said Tamar Elias, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

While the emissions have backed off since then, the volcano is still belching out between 4,000 and 5,000 tons a day, Elias said.

When the tradewinds are blowing, usually only the areas southwest of Kilauea Volcano’s active vents experience vog as a visible haze or as a sulfurous smell or taste.

But when the trades are missing, as they can be most often during winter months, the entire state can be enveloped in the nasty mixture of sulfur dioxide and fine particulates.

The National Weather Service on Friday was predicting that the wind would turn southeasterly Monday through Wednesday, making all of the islands potentially susceptible to vog.

During her study, Horwell held a series of focus groups and surveyed 146 Hawaii island residents. Some of her findings:

>> Ninety-six percent of those surveyed noticed the vog, many at least a few times per week. Most notice it as a visible haze, but people nearer the volcano also smell and taste it as well as experience symptoms.

>> Eighty-two percent believed they suffered from the symptoms caused by the vog but also admitted they could be due to other factors, such as mold and pollen.

>> Seventy-eight percent think the vog will affect their long-term health.

“There is no scientific evidence to support this, but it shows how concerned people are,” Horwell said.

Despite the spell vog played on most of those surveyed, 53 percent did not take any of the preventive measures previously recommended for voggy conditions.

Here are some of the things you can do, according the website hosted by Horwell’s International Volcanic Health Hazard Network:

>> Stay indoors with doors and windows closed. This can help reduce vog exposure over a few hours, depending on how well your house is sealed. Over the long term, outdoor air gradually seeps into a home, even if closed up. The house should be opened up again when vog levels decrease.

>> Air conditioning can provide comfort but is not designed to filter out vog. However, air conditioning dehumidifies the air, and some vog components might be pulled out of the air along with the moisture. When it’s voggy, set the unit to the “air recirculation” or “closed vent” setting to prevent the unit from pulling outdoor air into the home.

>> A room air cleaner can work to reduce levels of sulfur dioxide and particulates from the air. People living close to the volcano are exposed to both components, so they might want to use a specialized air cleaner that filters both. Those living farther away can use a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate arrestance) air cleaner designed to filter fine particles only.

Keep in mind that high-quality room air cleaners can be expensive and are designed for a room that can be closed off from the rest of the house and the outdoors. Also note that periodic filter replacement and other maintenance are required for air cleaners to perform as designed.

Other interventions that can help, Horwell said, including limiting strenuous activities, taking over-the-counter medications such as medicated and nonmedicated eyedrops and nasal sprays, and staying hydrated. Drinking hot beverages can help to loosen phlegm.

Ideas expressed in her surveys that were not included in the official advice, she said, include washing the skin and face to relieve skin irritation and respiratory symptoms, doing relaxation exercises such as yoga, and being around trees and other types of vegetation.

While some types of plants can clean the air, the official Department of Health advice must be firmly evidence-based and supported through the scientific literature, she said.

In addition, the Health Department does not recommend respirators, unless used under a doctor’s guidance, or face masks, which might not provide any significant protection against the components of vog.

The Vog Dashboard website is hosted by Horwell’s International Volcanic Health Hazard Network and is found at ivhhn.org/vog.