Code Red Air Quality Day declared for all of Pennsylvania on Thursday

Code Red Air Quality Day declared for all of Pennsylvania

Updated: 11:32 PM EDT Jun 28, 2023

Thursday will be another Code Red Air Quality Action Day in the Pittsburgh region, and across Pennsylvania, due to more smoke from Canadian wildfires, the state Department of Environmental Protection said.A code red air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations are unhealthy for the general population. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding outdoor exercise or strenuous activity. This air quality can particularly impact anyone with respiratory problems, children and seniors.Check the air quality near you with these links:Federal AirNow.gov Fire and Smoke MapAllegheny County Health Department Air Quality RIGHT NOW – If you’ve been outdoors at any point today, you’ve likely been able to smell the smoke as well. Due to the current air quality, sensitive groups are recommended to limit all outdoor activity. Our current weather setup has allowed for the smoke to make a return back to our local neighborhoods. North/northwesterly winds are not only transporting cooler air into the region from up north but also, the Canadian wildfire smoke that comes it.For perspective, it’s actually been quite some time since we’ve experienced visibility issues from wildfires like we are today – except it was coming from a lot closer than Canada. On Nov. 6, 1991, smoke from ongoing West Virginia forest fires affected the panhandles and parts of western Pennsylvania. Residents from all over the Pittsburgh area, including Bethel Park and New Kensington, reported to local news outlets the hazy and smoky conditions. They even noticed the burning smell, as if there were local brushfires.The DEP encourages anyone in the state to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by:Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials; andAvoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment. Experts say poor air quality can cause a number of symptoms, including headaches, increased coughing and chest pains.LOOKING AHEAD – We had a rather stagnant pattern a few weeks ago that left us with days of coverage on air quality conditions and hazy skies. It’s been a while since we’ve had to mention concern for air quality, but thankfully for us, today’s setup will be short-lived. We aren’t expecting a continued pattern of poor air quality and smoke. Winds will shift from the north to the south, which will help transport a lot of this smoke out of the area.

PITTSBURGH —

Thursday will be another Code Red Air Quality Action Day in the Pittsburgh region, and across Pennsylvania, due to more smoke from Canadian wildfires, the state Department of Environmental Protection said.

A code red air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations are unhealthy for the general population. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding outdoor exercise or strenuous activity. This air quality can particularly impact anyone with respiratory problems, children and seniors.

Check the air quality near you with these links:

RIGHT NOW – If you’ve been outdoors at any point today, you’ve likely been able to smell the smoke as well. Due to the current air quality, sensitive groups are recommended to limit all outdoor activity. Our current weather setup has allowed for the smoke to make a return back to our local neighborhoods. North/northwesterly winds are not only transporting cooler air into the region from up north but also, the Canadian wildfire smoke that comes it.

For perspective, it’s actually been quite some time since we’ve experienced visibility issues from wildfires like we are today – except it was coming from a lot closer than Canada. On Nov. 6, 1991, smoke from ongoing West Virginia forest fires affected the panhandles and parts of western Pennsylvania. Residents from all over the Pittsburgh area, including Bethel Park and New Kensington, reported to local news outlets the hazy and smoky conditions. They even noticed the burning smell, as if there were local brushfires.

The DEP encourages anyone in the state to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by:

• Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials; and
• Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.

Experts say poor air quality can cause a number of symptoms, including headaches, increased coughing and chest pains.

LOOKING AHEAD – We had a rather stagnant pattern a few weeks ago that left us with days of coverage on air quality conditions and hazy skies. It’s been a while since we’ve had to mention concern for air quality, but thankfully for us, today’s setup will be short-lived. We aren’t expecting a continued pattern of poor air quality and smoke. Winds will shift from the north to the south, which will help transport a lot of this smoke out of the area.