Tomorrow's Air Quality Forecast Not Looking Good

A message from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP):

The DEP continues to forecast unhealthy air quality for the following counties: Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London for Thursday, June 9, 2011.  

A forecast of “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (Code Orange) has been issued due to high concentrations of ground-level ozone predicted for tomorrow. 

By Friday air quality is expected to improve due to the passage of a cold front ushering in a dry, clean air mass from Canada.  

Link to current Air Quality Levels in CT: http://www.epa.gov/airnow/current/ct-aqi_current_hour.gif  

Weather Summary:   High pressure centered off the southeastern United States will continue to allow for a combination of sunny skies, hot temperatures and southwest surface winds to persist over Connecticut through Thursday.  This combination of heat and southwest winds will produce ideal conditions for ozone formation and transport of elevated levels of ozone into Connecticut.  These conditions will persist until Thursday night when an approaching cold front will trigger late day thunderstorms and cooler air, thus reducing ground-level ozone by Friday.   When intense sunlight, combined with high temperatures, react with NOx and VOC’s, ground-level ozone pollution is produced.    

Health Effects:   Anyone can be affected by ozone, but groups particularly sensitive include children and adults who are active outdoors, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma.  Sensitive people who experience effects at lower ozone concentrations are likely to experience more serious effects at higher concentrations.    

Actions You Can Take to Improve Air Quality:  

• Avoid mowing lawns with gasoline powered mowers
• Carpool and/or take public transportation, when possible
• Avoid refueling vehicles until after dusk
• Conserve electricity and set air conditioners to 78°F