DEP Issues Code Orange Air Quality Action Day Wednesday, July 10 For 8 Lehigh Valley, Southeast Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Wednesday, July 10 in 8 Lehigh Valley and Southeast Counties Southeastern Pennsylvania counties.

The counties include-- Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia.

On Wednesday, high pressure overhead will provide sunshine and warm temperatures to approach 90 degrees Fahrenheit by the afternoon. Light south/southwesterly flow combined with the abundant sunshine will act to raise ozone concentrations to code ORANGE levels. 

Air quality should improve on Thursday through the Lehigh Valley and southeast region as chances for showers and thunderstorms will increase across the area ahead of an approaching cold front.

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 Lehigh Valley-Berks Air Quality Partnership and the Air Quality Partnership for the Delaware Valley.

Visit DEP’s Air Quality Partnerships webpage for more information on air quality across Pennsylvania.