Join the Center for Land Use and Sustainability
at Shippensburg University for a public forum on
Warehouse Development — Impacts on People and Landscapes
Wednesday, April 16, 6:00pm — 8:30pm
Ceddia Union Building MPR, Shippensburg University
Members of the Clean Air Board will be there.
| A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Monday, Jul 29 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomorrow’s Forecast | ||||
| Monday, Jul 29: | 105 AQI | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |  | Ozone |
| 63 AQI | Moderate |  | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) | |
| Extended Forecast | ||||
| Tuesday, Jul 30: | 54 AQI | Moderate | | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) |
| 50 AQI | Good |  | Ozone | |
| Wednesday, Jul 31: | Moderate | | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) | |
| Good | | Ozone | ||
Current Conditions: At 5 p.m. EDT this Sunday afternoon, skies were mostly sunny with temperatures around 90 degrees. Ozone and fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations were in the moderate range. The heat will continue Monday, then things turn unsettled Tuesday into Wednesday with opportunities for much needed rainfall. Here are the forecast details: *** Monday’s forecast: AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY IS IN EFFECT FOR MONDAY!! Mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the lower to middle 90s will result in ozone maximums in the code ORANGE range during the afternoon. Sensitive persons are urged to limit outdoor activity during the afternoon hours. PM2.5 will remain in the moderate range through the day. *** Extended forecast: Better air quality is in store Tuesday into Wednesday as things turn more unsettled with the chance for showers and thunderstorms. Air quality will average in the upper good to perhaps low moderate range. The heat returns late this week with ozone concentrations again rising by Thursday.—McAuliffe |
* You are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce air pollution when an Air Quality Action Day is declared.
* Here are some tips for reducing ozone pollution:
• Driving less by carpooling or using public transportation;
• Combining errands to reduce vehicle trips;
• Limiting engine idling;
• Refueling cars and trucks after dusk; and
• Conserving electricity by setting air conditioning to a higher temperature and turning off lights that are not in use.
* Here are some tips for reducing fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) pollution:
• 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.
* This air quality forecast was prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
* The DEP’s air quality forecast for the Susquehanna Valley Area can also be found here.
* 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.
| 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.
| 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.
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 […]
February 7, 2024 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has revised the annual fine particulate (PM2.5) air quality standard. The new rule lowers the annual standard for fine particulate matter to 9.0 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down from the current standard of 12 micrograms. Over the next two years, the EPA will identify areas that do not meet the new standard. States would then have 18 months to develop compliance plans for those areas. By 2032, any area that exceeds the new standard could face sanctions. For more information go to the EPA webpage.
DEP Declares Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Ozone for July 6, 2023 in Lehigh Valley-Berks Area and Susquehanna Valley Area
| 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.
| A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Saturday, Jun 17 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomorrow’s Forecast | ||||
| Saturday, Jun 17: | 101 AQI | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |  | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) |
| 56 AQI | Moderate |  | Ozone | |
| Extended Forecast | ||||
| Sunday, Jun 18: | 68 AQI | Moderate | | Ozone |
| 65 AQI | Moderate | | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) | |
| Monday, Jun 19: | 73 AQI | Moderate | | Ozone |
| 55 AQI | Moderate | | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) | |
| Tuesday, Jun 20: | 70 AQI | Moderate | | Ozone |
| 55 AQI | Moderate | | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) | |
| Wednesday, Jun 21: | 60 AQI | Moderate | | Ozone |
| 55 AQI | Moderate | | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) | |
Current Conditions: At 2 p.m. EDT this Friday afternoon, a low pressure system moving through the state was bringing plenty of cloudiness to the region as well as a couple of showers and thunderstorms. Ozone concentrations have been held to the good range, and PM2.5 has also been lowered some by the rainfall, mostly down inside the good range. Wildfire smoke will continue to be a concern over the next several days, and the air quality situation will continue to be monitored through the weekend. With increasing sunshine and warmer air, especially Sunday into Monday, ozone concentrations will also be a concern. Here are the forecast details: *** Saturday’s forecast: An upper level low pressure system over New England Saturday will bring breezy northwest winds to the area with more sunshine. Ozone levels will rise, and be at the low end of the moderate range. With wildfire smoke still coming in from Ontario, and with the latest smoke models showing some near surface smoke, PM2.5 will rise to the low code ORANGE range, with highest concentrations during the morning. ** |
| A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Friday, Jun 9 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomorrow’s Forecast | ||||
| Friday, Jun 9: | 125 AQI | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |  | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) |
| 45 AQI | Good |  | Ozone | |
| Extended Forecast | ||||
| Saturday, Jun 10: | 100 AQI | Moderate |  | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) |
| 55 AQI | Moderate | | Ozone | |
Current Conditions: As of 2 PM on Thursday, the word of the day continues to be smoke, thanks to the ongoing forest fire situation across eastern Canada. The smoke that has infiltrated the Commonwealth continues to make its presence felt in terms of our air quality. As expected, the poor air quality conditions from this morning have reversed coarse somewhat. As the morning went along and the inversion, which helped to trap the high levels of PM 2.5 near the ground for a good portion of the morning hours, broke, the winds began to pick up as more vertical mixing occurred. The winds, in turn, forced PM 2.5 levels to drop drastically from the values recorded this morning. However, we are not completely out of the woods yet (pun not attended here). Over the past couple of hours, PM 2.5 levels have leveled off, resulting in more Code ORANGE – Code RED conditions instead of Code PURPLE conditions. For the rest of today, winds are not expected to increase drastically. Therefore, some level of smoke will still remain over the region. Then an inversion sets up shop this evening thereby keeping PM 2.5 concentrations in the Code RED range for today. In addition to PM 2.5, we are watching ozone, as levels have risen over the past few hours. That is the benefit of the thinning smoke signature allowing more sunshine and more photochemistry to occur. Expect continual improvements in the air quality tomorrow. *** Friday’s Forecast: So for Friday, expect the worse air quality conditions to persist during the morning hours as the smoke, which remained in place Thursday evening, carries over into the Friday morning. The plume that will be residing over the area will not be as dense as the one existing over the region on Thursday morning. Therefore, we do not expect PM 2.5 levels to be as high. Then, later in the day, the levels will drop as more mixing occurs. In addition, the threat of afternoon showers exist as a disturbance makes its way northwest to southeast across the area. These showers will also help PM 2.5 levels to drop. Afternoon temperatures will continue to be on the cooler side of normal, with highs ranging in the low 70s. It is the combination of the higher PM 2.5 that is expected during the day and the lower PM 2.5 expected during the afternoon that will help to keep PM 2.5 daily averages in the Code ORANGE range. Ozone levels will be in the good range thanks to the increased cloud cover limiting the photochemistry needed for ozone formation. |
| A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley Area, PA, on Thursday, Jun 8 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomorrow’s Forecast | ||||
| Thursday, Jun 8: | 130 AQI | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) |
| 65 AQI | Moderate | | Ozone | |
| Extended Forecast | ||||
| Friday, Jun 9: | 100 AQI | Moderate | | Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) |
| 70 AQI | Moderate | | Ozone | |
Current Conditions: As of 2 PM on Wednesday, the skies over eastern PA remain smoke filled as we continue to feel the impacts of the forest fires in eastern Canada and the positioning of an area of low pressure over Nova Scotia, Canada and an area of high pressure over the Hudson Bay region of Canada. The northerly wind flow that has persist for much of the day continues to drive the smoky air southward across the Commonwealth. Right now, we have a very thick plume of smoke over the region. This is allowing PM2.5 levels to reach into well into the unhealthy category. Expect the worse air quality impacts to continue to persist through the evening as the winds die down in the overnight period. *** Thursday’s Forecast: So for Thursday, expect the smoky conditions that have persisted over the past two days to continue to persist through much of the day. The highest air quality levels are expected to occur during the morning hours, as the air mass that settled in Wednesday night continues to persist over our area. Expect the air quality levels to begin to drop during the day thanks to a slight transition in the overall weather pattern. The main low pressure system over Nova Scotia will begin to retrograde (i.e. move from east to west) across the eastern Canada. This westward movement will change the orientation of the winds over PA. Model guidance indicates that the plume will actually shift further to the west, thus relaxing the onslaught of smoke over eastern PA. We will keep an eye on this situation around the clock and issue an update to this forecast in the morning, if necessary. Afternoon temperatures will stay slightly below normal, with highs in the low to mid 70s. Even with the declining levels of PM 2.5 expected, overall averages should at least remain well within the Code ORANGE range. |
