Armstrong Among “Code Orange” Air Quality Counties Today
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), along with several regional air quality partnerships, have forecast a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for ozone for Wednesday, July 29 in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Indiana, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Washington, Westmoreland, and York counties.
This is the second consecutive action day for the Pittsburgh region.
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.
The air quality forecast predicts Wednesday to be Code Orange for ozone. Ozone, a key component of smog, will become elevated on Wednesday as a ridge of high pressure extends across the northeastern U.S.
This system will keep the skies mostly sunny,allowing the temperatures and moisture levels to rise near the surface. Winds will be light and out of the south, allowing afternoon temperatures to climb into the low 90s across portions of Pennsylvania.
The combination of these factors will cause ozone to elevate to an unhealthy level for sensitive people during the afternoon hours.
To help keep the air healthy, residents and businesses are encouraged to voluntarily limit certain pollution-producing activities by:
Setting temperatures on air conditioning units and thermostats higher to reduce power usage;
Keeping lights and appliances off when not in use;
Delaying the filling of vehicle tanks until evening;
Carpooling or using public transportation; and
Combining errands to reduce trips.
Regional News | KP NewsDesk July 29, 2015
