HARTFORD–Those who have breathing conditions may want to rearrange their plans for Wednesday and Thursday to remain indoors.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has issued an Air Quality Alert after forecasting unhealthy air conditions for Wednesday and Thursday this week. The weather patterns forecasted will created higher ground-level ozone pollution across the state, and we’re expecting very warm temperatures–we may hit a heat wave, meaning three days of 90+ degree weather.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency also issued an alert for southern New England to expect unhealthy air the next several days.
Ground-level, or “bad,” ozone occurs when sunshine causes chemical reactions of pollutants from cars, power plants and other activities to form ozone.
“We are expecting air quality that will impact all of our citizens especially the most vulnerable residents – children, the elderly and those with respiratory disease such as asthma,” said DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee. “It will also impact healthy adults working or exercising outdoors – to minimize health impacts while working outdoors avoid prolonged strenuous activity and best if you exercise before noon or after 8 p.m.”
The specific weather pattern is that a Bermuda high pressure ridge is forming off the southeastern United States and winds will move in the southwesterly direction. With temperatures rising into a possible heat wave, the combined conditions imply air quality will be bad.
Winds have a lot of impact on air quality. When winds are moving in a southwesterly or westerly direction–coming from New York City and other populated areas–the ozone levels increase and we are more likely to have an Air Quality Alert.
The alert could extend to Friday, but by Saturday a cold front will bring us some relief.
“For the thousands of children and adults in Connecticut who live with asthma, COPD and other respiratory conditions, unhealthy air on hot summer days can trigger or worsen respiratory ailments,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino. “On poor air quality days, people with respiratory conditions should avoid prolonged periods of time outdoors by staying in cool, air conditioned indoor environments. If exposure to the outdoors is unavoidable, make sure rescue inhalers and medications are readily available and avoid overexertion while outside.”
The EPA requests that on bad air quality days people:
- Use public transportation or walk
- Combine errands and carpool to reduce mileage and driving time
- Use less electricity by turning off electronics when they aren’t being used
- Avoid using machines like lawn mowers, chain saws and other small gasoline-powered engines.
