UPDATED: DEP Declares Code Orange Air Quality Action Day In All 5 Air Quality Partnership Areas For Sunday, July 1

The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for ozone in all 5 Air Quality Partnership areas for Sunday, July 1.  Those areas include--

-- Liberty-Clairton: Liberty, Clairton, Port Vue, Lincoln, Glassport, Allegheny County;

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

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

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

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

On Sunday, expect the area of high pressure over the western Atlantic to remain in control of the weather across the eastern U.S. As a result, the skies will remain sunny, the wind will remain light, and afternoon temperatures will peak in the mid-90s Fahrenheit.

The combination of the heat and the increase in humidity are likely to contribute to higher ozone levels across much of the Commonwealth, which is why the DEP is issuing an Air Quality Action Day for the areas listed above.

Ozone levels are likely to remain elevated through the first half of the week. DEP will continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue Air Quality Action Days if need be.

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 DEP’s regional air quality partnerships.

Check the PA Environment Digest Blog for updates through the weekend.

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