DEP Issues Code Orange Air Quality Action Day Warning For Monday, Dec. 21 For Southcentral, Lehigh Valley-Berks and Southeastern PA

The Department of Environmental Protection forecasts a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day warning for particulate matter-- PM 2.5-- for Monday, December 21 in the Lehigh Valley-Berks, Southcentral and Southeastern Pennsylvania.  The counties include--

-- Lehigh Valley-Berks: Berks, Lehigh Northampton counties;

-- Southcentral:  Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties; and

-- Southeast: Bucks Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

A strong temperature inversion supported by snow cover, along with light winds associated with high pressure, are likely to contribute to daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter in the Code Orange range.

An air quality action day, which is determined based on the forecasted air quality index, means air pollutants are at unhealthy levels for vulnerable populations. 

On these 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.

Residents and businesses within the Air Quality Action Day area are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce air pollution by: 

-- Reducing or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use; and

-- Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash and other materials.

For more information, visit DEP’s Air Quality Partnerships webpage, EPA’s AirNow page, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Air Quality Partnership, or the Air Quality Partnership of Lehigh Valley-Berks webpages.

[Posted: December 20, 2020] PA Environment Digest