DEP Issues Air Quality Action Day Alert For Sunday, June 6 For Southwest PA, Susquehanna Valley, Lehigh Valley, Southeast PA

On June 5, the Department of Environmental Protection issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for ozone for Sunday, June 6 in the Lehigh Valley, Southwest and Southeast PA and the Susquehanna Valley.  The counties include--

-- Southwest: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland counties;

-- Susquehanna Valley:  Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties;

-- Lehigh Valley: Berks, Lehigh Northampton counties;

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

Conditions will be favorable for ozone concentrations on Sunday to climb into the code ORANGE range. Light southwesterly flow around a strong area of high pressure combined with sunny skies will allow for the rise in concentrations. 

Fine particulate will remain moderate with light low level winds and only fair pollutant dispersion.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI) provides standardized color codes for forecasting and reporting daily air quality. 

Green signifies good air quality; Yellow means moderate air quality; Orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people; and Red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all.

An Air Quality Action Day is issued when the AQI is forecasted to be Code Orange or higher. 

On an Air Quality Action Day, 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:

-- Conserving electricity by setting air conditioning to a higher temperature;

-- Combining errands to reduce vehicle trips;

-- Limiting engine idling; and

-- Refueling cars and trucks after dusk.

For more information, visit DEP’s Air Quality Partners and EPA’s AirNow webpages.

[Posted: June 5, 2021]  PA Environment Digest