The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast an orange air quality action day for ozone for June 11, for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.
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.
The air quality forecast predicts Thursday to be code orange for ozone. Ozone, a key component of smog, will become elevated on Thursday as a ridge of high pressure begins to move into the region. This high pressure system will keep the skies partly to mostly sunny, allowing the temperatures and moisture levels to rise near the surface.
Temperatures will likely climb into the low 90s. In addition, light surface winds will also reduce mixing, allowing ozone to increase during the afternoon hours.
To help keep the air healthy, residents and businesses are encouraged to voluntarily limit certain pollution-producing activities by:
— Setting air conditioning thermostats higher to reduce power usage;
— Keeping lights and appliances off, when not in use;
— Delaying the filling of vehicle tanks until evening;
— Planning errands in one trip to reduce pollution from vehicles;
— Carpooling or using public transportation; and
— Combining errands to reduce trips.
These forecasts are provided in conjunction with the Air Quality Partnership of the Delaware Valley, the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership, the Lehigh Valley/Berks Air Quality Partnership, and the Susquehanna Valley Air Quality Partnership.
Visit DEP’s Air Quality Partnership webpage for more information.
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