Air Quality Action Alert for Friday, July 6 in Susquehanna Valley

Forecast
Friday, Jul 6:	110 AQI	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups		Ozone
	55 AQI	Moderate		Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)

Current Conditions as of 2 PM on Tuesday: A weak area of high pressure that was overhead this morning has begun to move north and east. This system was responsible for the mostly sunny skies that we had seen earlier today. This system is being forced northeast by an approaching warm front. The warm front, associated with a low pressure system currently sitting over central Canada, will pass through this evening bringing showers and a possible thunderstorm overnight and into Wednesday. ***Independence Day Forecast: Partly cloudy skies, but hot and humid with a high in the mid-90s. Spotty showers and the chance for convective storm development remain for most of the mid-week holiday. A cold front, also associated with the low, will drive the warm front northeast and have its chance to pass through the region Wednesday afternoon. Depending on how widespread these storms are, Code Orange air quality is possible. With the combination of westerly transport, high dew points, and temperatures remaining above seasonable, both ozone and PM 2.5 will be on the rise into at least the moderate range. ***Thursday’s Forecast: Following that secondary frontal passage, a large area of high pressure will bring an end to any remaining showers on Thursday morning. The chance for some convective storm activity remains for the afternoon as we transition between systems. A drier air mass will be in store as winds turn northwesterly around the circulation of the high that will settle in. Mostly sunny skies and temperatures above normal are expected. Some inconsistencies among the models are leaving air quality levels questionable. PM 2.5 should remain in the low to mid-moderate range as dew points dip back into the mid-60s and northwesterly winds limit transport. On the other hand, ozone holds the potential of reaching Code Orange depending on the arrival time and positioning of the high pressure system. For now, expect upper moderate levels. Stay tuned as the forecast will updated as necessary. ***Extended Outlook: Friday will again be mostly sunny with a high in the low 90s. We can expect to see Code Orange levels reached throughout the forecast area. PM concentrations will be limited to the upper good threshold on Friday as northerly transport will be in control. Similar conditions are expected for Saturday until a frontal system passes through in the evening. This frontal passage should occur late Saturday and bring showers overnight. We may see some lingering showers on Sunday, but should quickly clear out by noon. This will allow both ozone and PM to settle back into the moderate range. Expect a clear and comfortable start to next week as temperatures dip back to seasonable following the frontal passage. –Brown

 

This forecast is brought to you by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) and the Air Quality Partnership of the Susquehanna Valley.

* You can follow the Susquehanna Valley air quality forecast on  and 

DEP alerts public of Air Quality Action Day for Ozone Monday, May 28

From the Department of Environmental Protection:

Monday, May 28:	105 AQI	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups		Ozone
	65 AQI	Moderate		Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)

Memorial Day: On Monday, the south/southeasterly wind will turn to become more south/southwesterly. This will continue to pump warm and moist air into the region for yet another hazy, hot, and humid day. Temperatures will again climb to near 90 degrees while dew point temperatures remain in the 60s. Mostly sunny skies combined with a more south/southwesterly flow will help to bump up both Ozone and PM 2.5 levels. High moderate levels of Ozone are likely, though a few locations could see readings climb into the Code Orange range. As a result, we will be issuing an Action Day for Monday for Ozone. PM 2.5 levels will remain in the moderate range. ***

Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley, PA, on Saturday, Jul 2 and Sunday, Jul 3

Forecast
Saturday, Jul 2: 110 AQI Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Ozone
Extended Forecast
Sunday, Jul 3: 105 AQI Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)

Current Conditions: As of 2 PM on Friday, mostly sunny skies prevail across the region as high pressure settles in across the eastern US. This high pressure is also keeping our winds light out of the northwest, which is allowing drier air to continue to filter into the region. Right now, temperatures are rising into the low 80s. Air quality levels have begun to rise as well. The sunshine today has helped to drive ozone levels into the moderate range while the low dewpoints are helping to keep most areas (for PM 2.5) in the good range (some isolated areas are reaching into the moderate status though). Expect the air quality to continue to deteriorate over the weekend as a warm and moist air mass focuses in over the region. Now onto the day-to-day details… *** On Saturday, mostly sunny skies should persist for much of the day as we remain under the influence of high pressure. Resonating over our area for another day, this high pressure will allow the winds to die down even further, limiting mixing within the boundary layer. This limit in mixing coupled with the warmer, more humid conditions building in will force air quality levels to rise. So as temperatures approach the 90 degree mark, expect ozone levels to reach into the Code ORANGE status. PM 2.5 levels are expected to rise into the mid to upper moderate range. *** For Sunday, mostly sunny skies early on will give way to increasing clouds by midday as a frontal system approaches our region from the west. This frontal system will help to concentrate the warm and moist conditions over our area. Light winds in the morning combined with the high dewpoints will lead to increased stagnant conditions, resulting in poor air quality. As a result, PM 2.5 levels are expected to reach into the Code ORANGE range. Even though afternoon temperatures should continue to be warm with highs ranging near the 90 degree mark, expect the afternoon cloudiness and chance of rain during the day to limit ozone formation to the moderate range. ***

Clean Air Board Community Meeting, June 2, 2011, 7 pm

“Reducing Diesel Particulate Emissions from Construction Projects”

CAB will look at successful projects which reduced particulate emissions from diesel engines at construction sites.

The presentation will be held at the Second Presbyterian Church, 528 Garland Drive, Carlisle, PA 17013, on June 2, at 7 pm.   Join us for a discussion of this important topic.

Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Friday, Dec 31

A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley, PA, on Friday, Dec 31
Friday Forecast
Friday, Dec 31:	110 AQI	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups		Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)   As of 2 PM on Thursday, mostly cloudy skies prevail across the region as an area of high pressure builds in over the central Mid-Atlantic. Right now, temperatures are hovering in the low 40s. With high pressure in control of our weather, light winds are prevailing over our area. The combination of these light winds and increased low level moisture has helped to force PM 2.5 levels into the Code ORANGE range today. We expect these levels to continue early on as high pressure remains over our region. Once a cold front pushes through during the second half of the weekend, colder temperatures and better air quality will build in.
Extended Forecast
Saturday, Jan 1:	100 AQI	Moderate		Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)

Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Thursday, Sep 2

Tomorrow’s Forecast
Thursday, Sep 2:	120 AQI	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups		Ozone
	95 AQI	Moderate		Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
Extended Forecast
Friday, Sep 3:	95 AQI	Moderate		Ozone
	80 AQI	Moderate		Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)

Current Conditions: As of 2 PM on Wednesday, sunny skies prevail across the region as a ridge of high pressure remains centered across the East Coast. Right now, southerly winds are not only forcing temperatures up into the low 90s but also air quality levels into the Code ORANGE range. With light flow a full day of sunshine on tap for tomorrow, expect another Code ORANGE day for ozone to unfold (with PM 2.5 in the moderate range). *** Thursday’s Forecast: So for Thursday, mostly sunny skies should persist across our area for much of the day as we remain under the influence of the high pressure system (which has persisted over the area for the past several days). As a result, we will continue to see light winds and warm temperatures. In fact, afternoon highs will peak in the low 90s once again. With the overall pattern remaining fairly stagnant, we expect air quality levels to be poor once again. The photochemical nature of ozone will allow ozone levels to rise into the Code ORANGE threshold. PM 2.5 levels are also going to remain elevated (with more humid conditions building in over the area). Overall, concentrations should remain in the upper moderate range.