Friday, June 17, 2016

PADEP Issues a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day Forecast for Philadelphia for June 18



COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
06/17/2016

CONTACT:

Neil Shader, DEP

717-787-1323


PADEP Issues a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day Forecast for Philadelphia for June 18


The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast a Code Orange air quality action day for ozone on Saturday June 18, 2016 for Philadelphia county.


On Saturday, higher pressure building into our west will allow the skies to stay relatively cloud free. The abundance of sunshine and light winds at the surface will force afternoon temperatures well into the 80s. The combination of weekend beach / city traffic along with plentiful sunshine and seasonably warm temperatures will drive ozone into the Code Orange range.

On air quality action days, young children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standardized air quality index uses colors to report daily air quality. Green signifies good; yellow means moderate; orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive people; and red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all.

To help keep the air healthy, residents and business are encouraged to voluntarily restrict certain pollution-producing activities by:


· Refueling cars and trucks after dusk

· Setting air conditioner thermostats to a higher temperature

· Carpooling or using public transportation; and

· Combining errands to reduce trips.


These forecasts are provided in conjunction with Air Quality Partnerships for the Delaware Valley.