The Lehigh Valley/Berks Area Air Quality Forecast for:
Wednesday, June 25: Ozone – Code YELLOW
Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code YELLOW
Yesterday’s Regional Maximum Ozone and PM 2.5 Concentrations:
Monday, June 23: Ozone – YELLOW (64 AQI or 64 ppb)
PM 2.5 – YELLOW (66 AQI or 22.9 µg/m3)
Short-Term Discussion: This afternoon will remain partly cloudy as the sunshine interacts with the cool air aloft to produce the cumulus clouds that we are seeing today. Northeastern portions of the Lehigh valley may even see a brief shower later this afternoon and evening. There are currently showers and thunderstorms firing up to the northeast and some of this action may shift to the southwest, brushing northeastern portions of the region. These showers and the associated clouds will dissipate quickly this evening as the sun goes down and we lose the daytime heating. There will also be an area of high pressure building in from the west that will help clear the skies and diminish the winds. Tonight will be clear and calm with low temperatures dipping down into the mid 50s. Wednesday will be a very pleasant day with light winds and ample sunshine as high pressure passes by to the south. Temperatures should climb into the mid 80s as a result. As the high passes to the south on Wednesday, winds will begin to shift out of the southwest late in the day. This will cause humidity levels to begin to rise, which will in turn allow particulate concentrations to creep into the YELLOW (moderate) range. Ozone will also climb into the YELLOW (moderate) range on Wednesday due to the warm temperatures and plentiful sunshine.
Extended: Thursday will be a warm and humid day with temperatures topping out in the mid 80s under mostly cloudy skies. There is the chance for showers and thunderstorms on Thursday as the air mass that the Lehigh Valley/Berks Area will be under will be somewhat unstable. Ozone concentrations will likely remain in the moderate range on Thursday due to the clouds that will be in the region. Particulate concentrations will also stay in the moderate range. The weather will continue to be unsettled as we head towards the weekend with the chance for showers and thunderstorms each day. Air quality will depend on the amount of cloud cover each day with ozone and particulate concentrations most likely remaining in the moderate range. However, if the area does see rain, ozone and particulate concentrations may drop back down into the good range.
Tags: Air Quality, AQI, Code Yellow, Ozone, PM2.5
