Front Range
Ozone Action Day Alert
Until at least 4 p.m. 06/22/2024
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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council have issued an OZONE ACTION DAY ALERT at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2024 for the Front Range Urban Corridor from Douglas County north to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver-Boulder area, Fort Collins and Greeley.
Although showers and thunderstorms will limit ozone development on Friday, higher ozone is expected Saturday as the air heats up and dries out. The highest ozone concentrations on Saturday are likely for locations in and near the Denver metro area, especially for southern and western locations during the afternoon and early evening hours.
This Ozone Action Day Alert will remain in effect until at least 4 p.m. Saturday, June 22, 2024.
For statewide conditions, forecasts and advisories, visit:
https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx
The highest Ozone related AQI at 12 o'clock AM Mountain Standard Time on June 22, 2024, is 67 which indicates Moderate ozone air quality. It was recorded by the RFN ambient ozone monitor. Unusually sensitive individuals may experience respiratory symptoms. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
The highest Particulate Matter (PM2.5) related AQI at 12 o'clock AM Mountain Standard Time on June 22, 2024, is 41 which indicates Good Particulate Matter (PM2.5) air quality. It was recorded by the I25GLO ambient monitor.
Friday, June 21, 2024, 1:50 PM MDT Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Friday and the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Saturday. On Saturday, ozone concentration in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category are most likely for locations in and near the Denver metro area, particularly for foothill locations to the south and west. In these areas, active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion from noon to 8pm on Saturday. For all other locations in the northern Front Range region, Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion until 8 pm on Friday, and from noon to 10 pm on Saturday. Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday and Saturday.Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday and Saturday. Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday and Saturday. Visibility on Saturday is expected to be Good to Moderate.
COLORADO SMOKE OUTLOOK:
Friday, June 21, 2024, 1:55 PM MDT
Light to moderate concentrations of smoke are possible near small wildfires and other prescribed burns around the state.
What if there is a wildfire or smoke in your area?
The focus of the Colorado Smoke Outlook is on large fires (e.g., greater than 100 acres in size). Nevertheless, smoke from smaller fires, prescribed fires, and/or smoke from new fires not yet known to CDPHE air quality meteorologists may cause locally heavy smoke. If there is smoke in your neighborhood, see the public health recommendations below.
If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. To temporarily relocate to an area with better air quality, consider using this map (https://fire.airnow.gov/) to identify the best area closest to you. IF VISIBILITY IS LESS THAN 5 MILES IN SMOKE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SMOKE HAS REACHED LEVELS THAT ARE UNHEALTHY.
Ground-level ozone is an air pollution problem that impacts the health of all Coloradans. Exposure can cause acute respiratory problems and trigger asthma attacks. During Ozone Action Alerts, avoid rigorous outdoor activity during the heat of the day. Prolonged exposure can cause long-lasting damage to your lungs.
You CAN make a difference by doing your part to improve air quality along Denver's Front Range. Even during periods of wildfire smoke, reducing your personal emissions can help decrease ozone production. Combining or skipping just two car trips a week has a positive impact on our air quality. Find other easy solutions that fit your lifestyle from Simple Steps. Better Air. (http://www.SimpleStepsBetterAir.org), a program of the Regional Air Quality Council.
WHAT IS AN ACTION DAY?: An Action Day for fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone or other pollutants indicates that either current air quality is unhealthy or conditions are expected to worsen later in the day or on the next day. Action Days for air pollutants generally indicate that air quality will be in either the Unhealthy or Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups categories according to the Air Quality Index. Action Days always convey overarching public health recommendations, and, according to season, trigger a variety of mandatory and voluntary pollution prevention measures. For example, during the summer open burning is prohibited when an Action Day for ozone and/or fine particulates is in effect. During the winter, residential burning restrictions are in effect when an Action Day for Visibility is in effect.
For a detailed description of both the AIR QUALITY INDEX and the VISIBILITY STANDARD INDEX please visit https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/brochure.aspx
COLORADO OPEN BURN FORECAST:
For those with permits for open burning, that is the burning of waste materials or vegetation outside, check the following webpage to find out if open burning is allowed today. Keep in mind that open burning is prohibited when an Action Day is in effect:
https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/burn_forecast.aspx
FOR CURRENT FRONT RANGE ACTION DAYS/ADVISORIES:
https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/advisory.aspx
FOR CURRENT AIR QUALITY CONDITIONS STATEWIDE:
https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/air_quality.aspx
SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.facebook.com/cdphe.apcd
https://twitter.com/cdpheapcd
AIR QUALITY NOTIFICATIONS:
https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/request_alerts.aspx(CDPHE automated e-mail alerts)
http://www.enviroflash.info/signup.cfm(CDPHE forecasts via automated e-mails from the EPA)
