The Lehigh Valley/Berks Area Air Quality Forecast for Thursday, May 29

Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code GREEN

Ozone (O3) – Code YELLOW

Regional Maximum PM 2.5 Concentrations:

Tuesday, May 27, 2008:

Ozone (O3) – Code GREEN (44 AQI or 52 ppb)

PM 2.5 – YELLOW (62 AQI or 20.9 µg/m³)

Short-Term Discussion: The cool front crossed the region late yesterday evening touching off some isolated thunderstorms in the process. Cool and dry Canadian air has filtered in behind the front lowering fine-particulate and ozone concentrations into the good range.

Clear and chilly overnight with temperatures expected to fall to near 40 degrees in some of the outlying areas with scattered areas of frost in the northern mountains. Mostly sunny and pleasant on Thursday with afternoon temperatures reaching the mid to upper 70s and humidity levels expected to remain in the comfortable range. Dry conditions should keep fine-particulate concentrations in the code GREEN (good) range while full sun and light winds may allow some portions of the forecast region to creep into the low code YELLOW (moderate) range.

Extended: A ridge of high pressure will cross the region over the next couple of days providing us with generally dry conditions. By Friday this system will settle over Virginia allowing southwesterly flow to become established and pumping some warm humid air over the region. This will be short lived as a cool front will cross the state on Saturday bringing clouds and showers for the first half of the weekend. Under this scenario we expect ozone concentrations to peak on Friday and fine-particulates to peak on Saturday. At this time, peak levels should only reach into the moderate range.

Memorial Day Forecast

Saturday, May 24, 2008: 

Ozone (O3) – Code GREEN

Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code GREEN

Sunday, May 25, 2008: 

Ozone (O3) – Code YELLOW

Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code YELLOW

Monday, May 26, 2008:  *** Memorial Day Holiday ***

Ozone (O3) – Code YELLOW

Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code YELLOW

Tuesday, May 27, 2008: 

Ozone (O3) – Code GREEN

Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code YELLOW

 

Regional Maximum PM 2.5 Concentrations:

Thursday, May 22, 2008:

Ozone - GREEN (19 AQI or 23 ppb)

PM 2.5 – GREEN (29 AQI or 8.9 µg/m³)

Short-Term Discussion:  Pleasant weather is expected for the remainder of the afternoon though we will begin to transition to warmer more seasonal temperatures in the next day or so.  While the weather should be quite nice over the Memorial Day weekend, air-quality levels will begin to deteriorate as warm stagnant conditions briefly set up before a cool front slowly crosses the state on Tuesday.  Ozone concentrations will probably peak on Monday while fine-particulate concentrations are expected to on Tuesday.  We will not issue an Air-Quality Action! alert for the Lehigh Valley/Berks forecast area due to frontal-passage uncertainty later in the forecast period.  This, however, does not mean that Monday’s ozone concentrations and Tuesday’s fine-particulate concentrations will not push beyond the upper moderate threshold.

 

Mainly clear overnight and chilly once again with temperatures expected to fall into the upper 40s.  Becoming mostly sunny and pleasant with afternoon temperatures expected to be in the low 70s.  Northerly winds and dry air should keep Saturday’s ozone and fine-particulate concentrations in the upper code GREEN (good) range.

 

Mainly clear overnight with temperatures expected to fall into the mid 40s.  Mostly sunny and a bit warmer on Sunday with temperatures rising into the upper 70s.  Winds will switch to the southwest late in the day bringing more humid air into the region.  Sunday’s ozone and fine-particulate levels are both expected to work their way into the code YELLOW(moderate) range.

 

Mainly clear overnight with some patchy fog possible by sunrise and temperatures expected to fall into the low 50s.  Mostly sunny early with increasing clouds expected later in the afternoon.  There is an outside chance of a shower or late afternoon thunderstorm, especially to our north.  Temperatures on Memorial Day could reach 80 degrees.  We expect Monday’s ozone concentrations to push into the upper code YELLOW (moderate) range.  Fine-particulate concentrations are also expected to reach the code YELLOW(moderate) range.

 

Cloudy with showers and possibly a thunderstorm overnight; low temperatures will be in the 60s.  Mostly cloudy with showers and possibly thunderstorms on Tuesday as a cool front slowly crosses the region.  Afternoon temperatures will probably be in the 70s.  Clouds and showers should keep Tuesday’s ozone concentrations in the code GREEN (good) range while high humidity levels and relatively dirty air ahead of the cool front will allow fine-particulate concentrations to remain in the code YELLOW (moderate) range.

 

Extended:  Our brief bout with warm and humid air should come to a close after Tuesday. We expect pleasant seasonal weather for the middle of next week as a ridge of high pressure builds over the forecast area.  With light northerly winds, drier air and near normal temperatures, air-quality readings should fall in the good to moderate range for the extended period.

 

 

 

 

Dear Air Quality Partners,

The Department of Environmental Protection and the Lehigh Valley/Berks Air Quality Partnership is holding our Ozone Season Kickoff event on Thursday, May 29 at 1 PM.  We will gather at LANTA’s new
Transportation Center at 6th & Linden Streets in Allentown.

This event will announce the start of the Ride Free on Ozone Action Days program run in conjunction with LANTA, DEP and the Partnership. This year, we will be limited to four week days of free bus rides due to budget constraints the presence of our partners will help us emphasize the importance of continued use of public transportation all summer long. We are hoping that the high gasoline and diesel prices will also encourage people to consider the use of LANTA, which meansfewer cars on the roads and better air quality. This event will also introduce the Partnership’s new top-level domain web address and new outreach materials.

I have included a link on DEP’s web site that describes the ozone reporting system, the health implications of elevated levels of ozone (commonly known as smog) and the work of the Partnership in the Lehigh Valley/Berks County areas and a link to our soon-to-be overhauled and renamed Partnership blog.

Many thanks, and we hope to see you on the 29th!

From DEP: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/aq_apps/aqpartners/default.asp

Go Green in Your Lawn and Garden This Summer

From EPA:

Contact Information: Roxanne Smith, (202) 564-4355 / smith.roxanne@epa.gov

Looking for tips on how to save time, money, and the planet while tending to your lawn and garden this summer? Check out EPA’s new GreenScapes exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s summer exhibition “One Planet—Ours,” which opens to the public on Saturday, May 24. EPA’s outdoor exhibit showcases lawn and garden care practices that are easy on the environment and on your wallet.

 

Summer is the perfect time to combine a green thumb with a green lifestyle. By following these simple tips, homeowners can save time and money, and improve the health and appearance of their lawn and garden.

 

·         Mow regularly and leave the clippings on the lawn – the clippings will recycle into “free fertilizer.”

·         Water deeply, but infrequently, to prevent lawn disease and save water.

·         Mulch flower and vegetable beds with compost or grass clippings to conserve water and control weeds.

·         Identify bugs before you spray, squash or stomp – most bugs are good bugs, not pests.

·         Consider planting native trees and plants, especially ones with berries, fruits and flowers to invite birds, butterflies, and other wildlife into your yard.

 

For more information on greenscaping, check out EPA’s GreenScapes Web site. It includes a seasonal tips calendar on landscape maintenance and a pamphlet that provides cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for large-scale landscapers and homeowners.

 

EPA’s GreenScapes partnership program is designed to help preserve natural resources and prevent waste and pollution by encouraging companies, government agencies, and other entities to make more holistic decisions regarding waste generation and disposal, and the use of the land, water, pesticides, and energy.

 

EPA’s GreenScapes Seasonal Planning Calendar: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/green/homeown/calendar.htm

 

GreenScaping: The Easy Way To a Greener, Healthier Yard: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/green/owners.htm

 

More information on GreenScapes: http://www.epa.gov/greenscapes

 

The Lehigh Valley/Berks Area Air Quality Forecast for Friday, May 9, 2008

Ozone (O3) – Code GREEN

Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code GREEN

Regional Maximum PM 2.5 Concentrations:

Wednesday, May 7, 2008:

Ozone - YELLOW (100 AQI or 75 ppb)

PM 2.5 – YELLOW (66 AQI or 23.3 µg/m³)

Short-Term Discussion: Ozone just missed exceeding the moderate threshold yesterday. No real chance for a repeat of that in the near future as clouds and showers remain locked in over the state. Fine-particulate levels are still in the moderate range and will remain there until cooler and drier air works its way into the region this weekend.

Clouds, showers and fog expected overnight as a cool front remains parked over us; low temperatures are forecast to fall into the mid 50s. Heavy rains and brisk winds are expected to develop near daybreak possibly accompanied by a rumble of thunder. Rain could cause some localized flooding in poor drainage areas. Precipitation will diminish by Friday evening though strong northeasterly winds will be in place by then. Temperatures may reach 60 degrees early in the day then start to fall by the afternoon. Clouds, rain and strong northeasterly winds should bring down Friday’s fine-particulate concentrations and keep ozone concentrations in the code GREEN (good) range.

Extended: We are still looking at a series of storms forecast to pass through our region over the next several days. Clouds should clear out later on Friday for a short duration but a weak disturbance may bring some light showers on Saturday. The first half of Mother’s Day still looks dry but a potent storm system will make its way into the Mid-Atlantic by Sunday evening. With a quick progression of storms forecast to affect our region, we do not expect air-quality readings to go much above the low moderate threshold in the extended period.