Code Orange air quality alert issued for Tuesday in Pittsburgh region
High air pollution could impact sensitive groups of people Tuesday in several counties across the region, including Allegheny and Westmoreland, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The department issued a Code Orange air quality alert for high levels of ozone. In addition to Allegheny and Westmoreland, impacted counties include Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette and Washington. An Air Quality Action Day has also been declared for Indiana County because of ozone.
Weather predictions show sunny skies and high temperatures around 90 degrees, which will likely contribute to eight-hour average concentrations of ozone throughout the day, according to the DEP.
Highs in Allegheny will hover around 93 degrees, and will reach 89 degrees in Westmoreland on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Light showers of rain with a warm front today will give way to heat and humidity for Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/SQAQ0yV0hg
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) June 20, 2022
A code orange alert represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people, including young children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems.
When an alert is issued residents and business are encouraged to help reduce ozone air pollution by driving less, combining errands to reduce vehicle trips, limiting engine idling, refueling vehicles after dusk and conserving electricity by setting air conditioning to a higher temperature and turning off lights that are not in use.
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