Ozone Action Day

The following is today's air quality forecast:

Wednesday, August 6, 2008: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Ozone (104)

** CODE ORANGE ACTION DAY for Trident and Pee Dee Zones for Wednesday **

Today's ozone readings appear headed for peaks in the code Yellow range for the most part with an outside shot at an isolated code orange still possible mainly in the Upstate. For Wednesday, strong high pressure aloft will continue to ridge into the state from the west keeping hot temperatures and mainly dry conditions in the forecast -- although a stray thunderstorm cannot be ruled out. Winds in the lower atmosphere will veer slightly to a more NW'ly direction over northern sections. This will place the Pee Dee zone downwind of the Charlotte Metro plume -- which is the main reason for the code Orange forecast for them. Trident will also be downwind of much of today's "dirty" air and under hot and mostly dry conditions, may not see much relief from the sea breeze. Thus, it is conceivable that code Orange could be reached there as well. In the other 4 zones, code Yellow ozone peaks are expected.

Today’s Share the Air notification:
This is our first Action Day for 2008 in the Pee Dee. The Department of Health and Environmental Control has issued an Ozone Action Day for the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Ground level ozone concentrations are expected to be greater than 0.075 parts per million (or greater than 100 AQI). In essence, sensitive groups should limit outdoor activities.

Keep in mind where your pollution goes. Fill your tank after 7:00PM, limit unnecessary trips, use Mass Transit, carpool. Although Charlotte Metro may be the main cause, our vehicle emissions only add to local ozone levels.

The general descriptions of ozone, air quality index levels and potential risks to special population groups are explained below:

Good (1-50)
No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range.
Moderate (51-100)
Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150)
Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy (151-200)
Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
Very Unhealthy (201-300)
Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.

If you have any questions regarding the air quality of Florence County or would like to be included in an e-mail distribution of air quality, please feel free to e-mail me at spark@florenceco.org.