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DEP declares Orange Air Quality Action Day for Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022

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DEP Declares Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulate Matter for Thursday, January 13, 2022, in Multiple Areas of Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for fine particulate matter for Thursday, January 13, 2022, in the following areas of Pennsylvania:

• The Philadelphia Area, which includes the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia;
• The Lehigh Valley-Berks Area, which includes the counties of Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton; and
• The Susquehanna Valley Area, which includes the counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York.

A moderately strong temperature inversion Thursday morning with calm or very light wind will likely contribute to daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter in the Code Orange range.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) provides standardized color codes for forecasting and reporting daily air quality. Green signifies good air quality; Yellow means moderate air quality; Orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people; and Red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all.

An Air Quality Action Day is declared when the AQI is forecasted to be Code Orange or higher. On an 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.

Residents and businesses within the Air Quality Action Day areas are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by:

• Reducing or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use;
• Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials; and
• Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.

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DEP extends Code Orange Air Quality Alert in Susquehanna Valley

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PA DEP has extended the Code Orange Air Quality Action Day in the Susquehanna Valley to Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. According to the DEP news release, “An Air Quality Action Day will be declared for Monday as near calm winds and a strong morning inversion elevate PM2.5, especially prior to 10 a.m. The inversion will break with light north winds Monday afternoon, but parts of the area might still have PM2.5 daily averages in the code ORANGE range.”
View CAB’s real-time PM2.5 monitor feed on our home page to find PM2.5 measurements in your area.

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DEP declares Air Quality Action Day in Susquehanna Valley for Nov. 7

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DEP has declared an Air Quality Action Day for the Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Sunday, Nov 7.
According to the DEP news release, on Saturday evening, PM2.5 will be on the rise once more as a moderately strong inversion develops. *** Sunday’s forecast: An Air Quality Action day will be declared for the day Sunday with a strong inversion and calm winds early in the day. Winds will pick up from the north and northwest during the afternoon, but may not be sufficient enough to keep PM2.5 out of the code ORANGE range in a few locations.

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The Air Quality Index Explained: What It Means and How to Stay Safe

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By Adeel Hassan NY Times, Aug. 6, 2021

The Air Quality Index measures the density of five pollutants: ground-level ozone, particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. It was established by the Environmental Protection Agency as a way to communicate to Americans the cleanliness of the air they are breathing each day. Read more

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DEP declares Ozone Action Day for Aug. 25

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DEP has declared an Air Quality Action Day due to OZONE pollution in the Susquehanna Valley, PA, for Wednesday, Aug 25

Tomorrow’s Forecast
Wednesday, Aug 25: 102 AQI Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Ozone
57 AQI Moderate Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
Extended Forecast
Thursday, Aug 26: 98 AQI Moderate Ozone
57 AQI Moderate Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)

Current conditions: A ridge of high pressure building into Pennsylvania is bringing mostly sunny skies and hotter air into the area this Tuesday afternoon. Ozone levels are increasing, but remain in the good range. However, particle pollution (PM2.5) remains moderate in parts of the area. Deteriorating air quality is in store for the next couple of days with light winds, mostly sunny skies, and recirculating air. *** Wednesday’s forecast: An Air Quality Action Day is in effect for Wednesday!! Ozone formation during the late morning/afternoon will be robust, and 8-hour maximum concentrations are expected to reach into the code ORANGE range. PM2.5 levels will remain in the moderate range through the day as skies will be mostly sunny with temperatures reaching into the middle 90s. *** Extended forecast: The heat is expected to continue Thursday, with sunshine for the most part, and again, code ORANGE ozone concentrations are possible. Chances for afternoon and evening thunderstorm activity may temper the heat and subsequent ozone formation Friday into Saturday, so only moderate ozone and PM2.5 concentrations may occur on these days. It might not be until early next week until we can get a bonafide cold front to pass through and cool things off just in time for the start of September. —McAuliffe

Residents and businesses within the ozone Air Quality Action Day area are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce air pollution by:

• Conserving electricity by setting air conditioning to a higher temperature;
• Combining errands to reduce vehicle trips;
• Limiting engine idling; and
• Refueling cars and trucks after dusk.

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DEP extends air quality action day to July 21

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Harrisburg, PA.  An Air Quality Action Day for fine particulate matter will be in effect once again in the Susquehanna Valley for Wednesday, July 21. A cold front pushing to the south and east will improve conditions and help to move the wildfire smoke out of the area, but this feature will not arrive until the afternoon to early evening hours. A slight chance for showers and possibly a few thunderstorms will occur in advance of the arrival of this front, but these will not be widespread enough to help to clean out the air prior to the frontal passage.

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DEP declares air quality action day for July 20

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Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for fine particulate matter for Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in the following areas of Pennsylvania:

• The southeastern counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia;
• The Lehigh Valley-Berks Area which includes the counties of Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton;
• The southcentral counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York; and
• The southwestern counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland.

Smoke from wildfires in northern and western Canada, along with light winds, will likely contribute to daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter in the Code Orange range on Tuesday.

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DEP declares Air Quality Action Day for Thursday, May 20

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Forecast
Thursday, May 20:101 AQIUnhealthy for Sensitive GroupsOzone
 53 AQIModerateParticle Pollution (2.5 microns)
**An Air Quality Action Day is in effect for ozone Thursday** Current conditions: A strong ridge of high pressure, both at the surface and aloft, is creating very warm conditions this Wednesday afternoon, and ozone formation has been robust in parts of the area. *** Thursday’s forecast: Elevated ozone is likely to continue into the day Thursday, with maximum 8 hour concentrations moving into the code ORANGE range with light winds and temperatures well into the 80s F. Fine particulate will also move into low moderate territory, with the highest levels most likely coming during the morning hours. ***
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DEP declares Air Quality Action Day on Jan. 14

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A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley, PA, on Thursday, Jan 14
Tomorrow’s Forecast
Thursday, Jan 14: 102 AQI Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
Extended Forecast
Friday, Jan 15: 66 AQI Moderate Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
Current conditions: **An Air Quality Action Day is in effect for the day Thursday** After another morning of elevated fine particulate concentrations, levels are decreasing this Wednesday afternoon under a brisk west to southwest wind. Nonetheless, most locations will end up well into the moderate range. Fine particulate levels will increase overnight with a developing inversion and near calm winds. *** Thursday’s forecast: Fine particulate matter concentrations will be high Thursday morning, and there will not be enough afternoon mixing to keep levels out of the code ORANGE range, with the Lancaster area perhaps ending up with the highest concentrations. Skies should be partly sunny with a mild afternoon. *
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DEP declares Air Quality Action Day of Dec. 21

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A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley, PA, on Monday, Dec 21
Tomorrow’s Forecast
Monday, Dec 21: 103 AQI Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
Extended Forecast
Tuesday, Dec 22: 40 AQI Good Particle Pollution (2.5 microns)
Current conditions: ***An Air Quality Action Day is in effect for Monday***. Calm to very light westerly winds, another strong morning inversion, and increasing weekday emissions from mobile and stationary sources will all act to create fine particulate concentrations in the code ORANGE range Monday. Fine particulate concentrations are expected to be at their highest during the morning hours. *