Air Quality Action Day Archives - Clean Air Board of Central Pennsylvania

PA DEP declares Code Orange alert for Tuesday, Feb. 10

February 9, 2026/0 Comments/in Air Quality Action Day/by Thomas Au

***AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY IS IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY*** Current Conditions at 2 p.m. EST Monday afternoon: Despite a mostly sunny sky, temperatures are struggling in the middle 20s. Air quality remains in the good range, but fine particle pollution (PM2.5) levels will increase significantly overnight and during the day Tuesday as a strong inversion sets up with a persistent snow cover. Not as cold tonight with a mostly cloudy sky. PM2.5 will increase overnight substantially. *** Tuesday’s forecast: Mostly cloudy and milder Tuesday with a cold front approaching from the west. A bit of snow, ice, and rain is likely during the afternoon/evening. Light winds through the day and a strong morning inversion will maintain PM2.5 concentrations in the code ORANGE range.

Tomorrow’s Forecast
Tuesday, Feb 10:	105 AQI	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups		Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)

Information provided by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

DEP declares Code Orange Action for Particulate on Tuesday, Aug. 5

August 4, 2025/0 Comments/in Air Quality Action Day/by Thomas Au

The PA Department of Environmental Protection is concerned about wildfire smoke from Canada drifting into Pennsylvania. Excerpts from PADEP message dated Aug. 4, 2025:

A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Tuesday, Aug 5

Tomorrow’s Forecast
Tuesday, Aug 5:	102 AQI	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
	90 AQI	Moderate	Ozone

Thicker areas of low level smoke still persist to our north and there is concern some of this smoke works it’s way into the area Tuesday and Wednesday. Here are the forecast details:

*** Tuesday’s forecast: An Air Quality Action Day is in effect for Tuesday! Sunshine and a few clouds through near surface smoke Tuesday may result in several hours where PM2.5 concentrations move into the code ORANGE range. In addition, the smoke may act to produce ozone levels in the high moderate range for some time during the afternoon as well. Afternoon highs will reach the middle and upper 80s.

Any persons who are sensitive to air pollution should limit extensive outdoor exertion and visit www.airnow.gov for the latest air quality information in their location.

*** Extended forecast: Increasing clouds and an easterly flow will limit ozone production Wednesday and Thursday, but PM2.5 may still reach into code ORANGE for a time as the smoke may be slow to clear out, especially Wednesday.

* Current air quality monitoring data for the Susquehanna Valley Area and other locations across Pennsylvania can be found at the EPA’s AirNow Interactive Map.

* For information on the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the health effects of ozone and PM-2.5, visit the EPA’s AirNow AQI & Health webpage.

* The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map provides information that you can use to help protect your health from wildfire smoke.

DEP declares Code Orange for Ozone for Wednesday June 4

June 3, 2025/0 Comments/in Air Quality Action Day/by Thomas Au

Hello Clean Air Board community,

We want you to know that DEP has declared an Air Quality Action Day for Ozone Pollution on Wednesday, June 4. Here are excerpts from their alert.

A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Wednesday, Jun 4

Tomorrow’s Forecast
Wednesday, Jun 4:	101 AQI	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Ozone
	66 AQI	Moderate	Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)

Extended Forecast
Thursday, Jun 5:	75 AQI	Moderate	Ozone
	60 AQI	Moderate	Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
Friday, Jun 6:		Moderate	Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
		Moderate	Ozone

Here are the forecast details: *** Wednesday’s forecast: An Air Quality Action Day is in effect for Wednesday. Sunshine through a layer of smoke as well as high temperatures in the upper 80s will lead to rapid ozone development, with peak afternoon concentrations in the code ORANGE range. Sensitive persons should take precautions and monitor air quality in their locality by visiting www.airnow.gov. PM2.5 will also increase Wednesday to the lower moderate range.

DEP declares Air Quality Action Day for Ozone on July 9

July 8, 2024/0 Comments/in Air Quality Action Day/by Thomas Au

Tuesday’s forecast: An Air Quality Action Day is in effect for Tuesday! Code ORANGE ozone levels are likely again Tuesday as temperatures soar into the middle to upper 90s with a fair amount of sun and limited convective activity. PM2.5 will remain at low to middle moderate through the day. Heat indices will reach close to 105 in the afternoon.

A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Tuesday, Jul 9

Tomorrow’s Forecast
Tuesday, Jul 9:	102 AQI	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Ozone

This air quality forecast was prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

* Current air quality monitoring data for the Susquehanna Valley Area and other locations across Pennsylvania can be found at the EPA’s AirNow Interactive Map.

* For information on the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the health effects of ozone and PM-2.5, visit the EPA’s AirNow AQI & Health webpage.

DEP declares Air Quality Action Day for July 8

July 7, 2024/0 Comments/in Air Quality Action Day/by Thomas Au

A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Monday, Jul 8

Tomorrow’s Forecast
Monday, Jul 8:	102 AQI	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Ozone

An Air Quality Action Day is in effect for the day Monday with ozone levels reaching code ORANGE levels during the afternoon as temperatures rise into the lower to middle 90s. A heat advisory is also in effect for Monday afternoon as well with heat indices reaching just over 100.

* Current air quality monitoring data for the Susquehanna Valley Area and other locations across Pennsylvania can be found at the EPA’s AirNow Interactive Map.

* For information on the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the health effects of ozone and PM-2.5, visit the EPA’s AirNow AQI & Health webpage.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has forecast a Code ORANGE Air Quality Action Day for ozone for Tuesday, June 4, 2024, for the Lehigh-Berks and Susquehanna Valley areas in Pennsylvania. This includes the counties of Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, and York.

June 4, 2024/0 Comments/in Air Quality Action Day/by Thomas Au

June 4, 2024, Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has forecast a Code ORANGE Air Quality Action Day for ozone for Tuesday, June 4, 2024, for the Lehigh-Berks and Susquehanna valley areas in Pennsylvania. This includes the counties of Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, and York. Mostly sunny skies and temperatures […]

DEP declares statewide Code Orange Alert for July 17

July 16, 2023/in Air Quality Action Day/by Clean Air Board

DEP Declares Statewide Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulate Matter for July 17, 2023

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a statewide Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for fine particulate matter July 17, 2023, in Pennsylvania.

Smoke from wildfires is expected to impact Pennsylvania air quality throughout the day and will likely contribute to daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter in the Code Orange range on Monday. On an hourly basis, a number of locations may see a rise in concentrations that are at levels in the lower end of the Code Red/Unhealthy range for several hours. Residents are encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area.

On a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day, 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.

DEP declares Code Orange alert for ozone on July 6

July 5, 2023/in Air Quality Action Day/by Clean Air Board

DEP Declares Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Ozone for July 6, 2023 in Lehigh Valley-Berks Area and Susquehanna Valley Area

Current Conditions: At 2 p.m. EDT this Wednesday afternoon, skies were mostly sunny across the region with temperatures moving into the lower 90s. Ozone continues to develop near the ground, and most locations will have maximum concentrations reach the moderate range. With limited mixing, fine particulate (PM2.5) will also reach moderate levels. The heat is expected to continue through the day Thursday, with a slow cooling trend beginning Friday. A more unsettled weather regime is likely to occur over the weekend, with increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms. The increasing convective activity will keep ozone and PM2.5 levels down in the moderate range by Saturday. Now, here are the forecast details: *** Thursday’s forecast: An Air Quality Action Day is in effect for Thursday! Partly to mostly sunny and hot with ozone developing rapidly in the late morning and afternoon, with code ORANGE concentrations in parts of the area. A thunderstorm will also develop in parts of the area during the late afternoon. Fine particles will again average moderate, with the highest levels coming during the morning as an inversion is expected.

A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Thursday, Jul 6

Tomorrow’s Forecast
Thursday, Jul 6:	101 AQI	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Ozone
	60 AQI	Moderate	Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)

* This air quality forecast was prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

* Current air quality monitoring data for the Susquehanna Valley Area and other locations across Pennsylvania can be found at the EPA’s AirNow Interactive Map.

DEP extends Code Red Air Quality Alert to June 29

June 28, 2023/in Air Quality Action Day/by Clean Air Board

A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Thursday, Jun 29

Tomorrow’s Forecast
Thursday, Jun 29:	178 AQI	Unhealthy	Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
	85 AQI	Moderate	Ozone

Extended Forecast
Friday, Jun 30:	100 AQI	Moderate	Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
	93 AQI	Moderate	Ozone

Current Conditions as of 2 PM on Wednesday: A departing area of low pressure and an area of high pressure building over the region have created conditions that are transporting smoke southward from wildfires in eastern Canada into the region. As a result, air quality conditions have become quite poor across the area since early this morning. Unfortunately, unhealthy levels of air quality will continue Thursday and at least early Friday before unsettled weather returns to help at least temporarily improve conditions through the weekend. *** Thursday’s Forecast: Wildfire smoke will continue to blanket the region on Thursday leading to another day with unhealthy levels of air quality. Warmer air lifting northward aloft will contribute to the development of another overnight temperature inversion. How strong this inversion becomes will be dependent on how cool overnight temperatures at the surface become. High pressure will provide minimal cloud cover which is typically favorable for better radiational cooling during the overnight hours. A layer of wildfire smoke, however, can sometimes act like a blanket of cloud cover over the region, thus limiting that radiational cooling to some degree. Whether it is a strong inversion or weak inversion that develops tonight, the result will still be unhealthy levels of air quality with concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) remaining elevated. Winds look to be light for the day so even after the temperature inversion breaks during the morning hours mixing will be very limited. A CODE RED Air Quality Action Day is declared for Thursday for PM-2.5 due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires.

* Current air quality monitoring data for the Susquehanna Valley Area and other locations across Pennsylvania can be found at the EPA’s AirNow Interactive Map.

DEP declares Air Quality Action Day for June 28 & 29

June 28, 2023/in Air Quality Action Day/by Clean Air Board

A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Wednesday, Jun 28 and Thursday, Jun 29

Today and Tomorrow’s Forecast
Wednesday, Jun 28:	175 AQI	Unhealthy	Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
	38 AQI	Good	Ozone
Thursday, Jun 29:	125 AQI	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
	42 AQI	Good	Ozone

Wednesday Morning Update: The wildfire smoke has progressed further east overnight faster than models have been projecting, resulting in the higher concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) reaching the area from the northwest earlier on Wednesday earlier than expected. The forecast has been upgraded to a CODE RED Air Quality Action Day. *** Wednesday’s Forecast: High pressure begins to build over the region on Wednesday as the low-pressure system that brought showers and thunderstorms the last few days slides off to the north and east. This will lead to a decrease in cloud cover by late in the day. The arrival of some wildfire smoke on a northwesterly breeze will lead to an increase in concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM-2.5), however. The area between the departing low and the arriving high will transport the wildfire smoke from the eastern Canadian fires that have been burning all month into the region. Air quality conditions may rapidly deteriorate at times. A CODE RED Air Quality Action Day for PM-2.5 has been declared for Wednesday. Concentrations will rise during the morning hours with the highest hourly concentrations expected to occur late in the day as the smoke continues to advance south and eastward. Residents are encouraged to check www.airnow.gov to see current conditions and the recommendations that go along with those conditions. With mostly cloudy conditions early and decreasing clouds later along with the haze from the smoke, ozone formation will be limited to keep concentrations in the good range. *** Extended Outlook: Dry conditions will continue Thursday. A warm front trying to lift north will turn the flow to more southerly during the evening hours. Continuation of northwesterly to westerly flow early in the day will allow for elevated PM-2.5 concentrations to linger into Thursday. It is looking likely that an Air Quality Action Day for at least CODE ORANGE will be declared for Thursday. Development of these conditions for Thursday will be monitored throughout the day on Wednesday with a forecast update by Wednesday afternoon. Even with mostly sunny skies, haze from the wildfire smoke will likely continue to limit ozone formation for Thursday. Air quality conditions are expected to begin improving late Friday into Saturday as more unsettled weather looks to return for the weekend. — Roble

Current air quality monitoring data for the Susquehanna Valley Area and other locations across Pennsylvania can be found at the EPA’s AirNow Interactive Map.