DEP Issues Code Orange Air Quality Action Day Tuesday, July 16 For Southeast Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partners have forecast a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Tuesday, July 16 in 5 Southeastern Pennsylvania counties.

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

On Tuesday, sunshine, light south to southwest winds, and temperatures in the lower 90 degrees Fahrenheit will promote ozone development into the code ORANGE range in Southeastern Pennsylvania counties. DEP will continue to monitor the possibility of a future ozone episode later this week and will issue forecast updates/action day issuances as needed.

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 Air Quality Partnership for the Delaware Valley.

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