CONNECTICUT, USA — Another weekend, another heatwave, and another warning about elevated ozone levels across parts of the state.
The state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection issued a warning Friday saying air quality will reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) level in Coastal Connecticut on Sunday, July 26 and Monday July 27, 2020. The impacted area for both days includes all coastal towns extending from Greenwich to Stonington.
“As we move into the dog days of summer, many people will head to Connecticut’s shoreline where temperatures tend to be a little lower,” said Betsey Wingfield, DEEP’s Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Quality. “As DEEP is predicting unhealthy air quality along the entire Connecticut coast line on Sunday and Monday, it is important that everyone continue to social distance and try to avoid the hottest part of the day when ozone levels are the highest. State park capacity continues to be limited.”
DEEP says the weather pattern for this weekend will bring polluted air up the I-95 corridor from as far away as Washington D.C. where it will mix with local air pollution from cars and trucks in the presence of very warm temperatures to form ozone, which is a strong respiratory irritant.
At-risk populations include children, the elderly and those with respiratory diseases. These sensitive groups may experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. But even healthy adults working or exercising outdoors for prolonged periods should watch for the effects of air pollution in these conditions, according to DEEP.
Peak ozone levels generally occur between 2-8 PM EDT, so exercising in the morning before ozone levels are elevated can help to minimize adverse health effects.
You can monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities via several DEEP Air Quality Index (AQI) Twitter accounts.
