FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A strong ridge of high pressure, a mostly sunny sky, temperatures in the lower to middle 90s Fahrenheit, and west to southwesterly transport will be highly favorable for ozone formation, starting across western Pennsylvania Saturday, and in all locations Sunday into the day Monday. This will result in code ORANGE conditions to a widespread area of Pennsylvania Sunday into Monday. An approaching cold front will bring a better chance for afternoon and evening thunderstorms Tuesday, reducing the risk for elevated ozone.
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 the Southwestern PA Air Quality Partnership, Inc, the Susquehanna Valley Air Quality Partnership and the Lehigh Valley-Berks Air Quality Partnership.
For more information, visit www.dep.pa.gov.
06/15/2018
CONTACT:
Neil Shader, DEP
717-787-1323
PADEP Issues a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day Forecast for
Southwest, Southcentral and Lehigh Valley Counties for June 16-18, 2018
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality
partnerships have forecast a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for
ozone on June 16, 2018 for the Pittsburgh region (encompassing
Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Indiana, Mercer,
Washington, and Westmoreland counties). A Code Orange Air Quality Action
Day for ozone is also forecast on June 17 and 18 for the Pittsburgh
region, southcentral counties (Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon,
and York counties) and the Lehigh Valley (Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton
counties). A strong ridge of high pressure, a mostly sunny sky, temperatures in the lower to middle 90s Fahrenheit, and west to southwesterly transport will be highly favorable for ozone formation, starting across western Pennsylvania Saturday, and in all locations Sunday into the day Monday. This will result in code ORANGE conditions to a widespread area of Pennsylvania Sunday into Monday. An approaching cold front will bring a better chance for afternoon and evening thunderstorms Tuesday, reducing the risk for elevated ozone.
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 the Southwestern PA Air Quality Partnership, Inc, the Susquehanna Valley Air Quality Partnership and the Lehigh Valley-Berks Air Quality Partnership.
For more information, visit www.dep.pa.gov.