Air Quality Forecast

The Lehigh Valley/Berks Area Air Quality Forecast for:

 

Tuesday, July 1:

Ozone – Code GREEN

Fine Particulates (PM 2.5) – Code YELLOW

 

This Weekend’s Regional Maximum Ozone and PM 2.5 Concentrations:

 

Friday, June 27:

Ozone – YELLOW (54 AQI or 61 ppb)

PM 2.5 – YELLOW (69 AQI or 24.9 µg/m³)

 

Saturday, June 28:

Ozone – GREEN (47 AQI or 56 ppb)

PM 2.5 – YELLOW (68 AQI or 24.1 µg/m³)

 

Sunday, June 29:

Ozone – GREEN (48 AQI or 57 ppb)

PM 2.5 – GREEN (38 AQI or 11.8 µg/m³)

 

Short-Term Discussion:  This afternoon will remain mostly cloudy as an upper level trough moves toward the Lehigh Valley/Berks Area.  There is also the chance for some areas to see a shower or thunderstorm as they drift into the region from western Pennsylvania this afternoon.  Skies will partially clear tonight as the showers and thunderstorms die off and low temperatures will drop down to around 60 degrees.

 

Tuesday will be mostly cloudy as the upper level trough currently over Ohio swings through.  As the trough moves through, it could touch of some showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon.  There will also be cooler air associated with the trough which will cause high temperatures to only reach 80 degrees.  Humidity levels will be reduced as well.  However, particulate concentrations will still be in the YELLOW (moderate) range on Tuesday as the air that is moving into the area is not all that clean.  Ozone concentrations will be in the GREEN (good) range on Tuesday due to the cloud cover and cleaner air moving into the region.

 

 

Extended:  The weather will improve as we head into Wednesday.  High pressure will be building into the Lehigh Valley/Berks Area providing mostly sunny skies and allowing temperatures to climb into the low to mid 80s.  Humidity levels will also continue to be comfortable.  Particulates should be in the good range on Wednesday as a result of the low humidity levels.  Ozone may rise into the low moderate range on Wednesday, though, due to the sunny skies and warm temperatures.  Another cold front will head towards the region on Thursday, increasing southwesterly flow and humidity levels ahead of it.  Particulates will likely climb back into the moderate range with the increased humidity, but ozone will remain around the good/moderate threshold with clouds moving in.  This front appears that it will stall over the area as we head towards the 4^th of July, allowing for the chance of showers and thunderstorms on Friday. 

Tags: air quality forecast, Ozone, PM2.5