Poor Air Quality Prompts Ozone Alert For Phoenix-Area Residents

PHOENIX, AZ — Phoenix metro residents are being urged to limit outdoor activity today as an Ozone High Pollution Advisory is in effect for Maricopa County.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued the advisory, warning that weather conditions and existing ozone levels are expected to combine into unhealthy air quality across the Phoenix area.

The agency says adverse health effects increase as air quality deteriorates.

Those most at risk include children, older adults and anyone with respiratory conditions such as asthma. ADEQ recommends decreasing physical activity outdoors while the advisory is in effect.

Residents can also help reduce pollution levels by carpooling, telecommuting or using mass transit. Use of gasoline-powered equipment should be reduced or pushed to later in the day.

The advisory comes during a stretch of hot, dry weather across the region.

Temperatures in the lower desert are expected to run between 103 and 109 degrees through Friday, with mostly sunny skies. Slightly above normal temperatures and moderate heat risk are forecast to continue through the week before easing closer to normal over the weekend.

Late in the week, locally breezy conditions are possible, especially across the lower Colorado River Valley and higher terrain areas.

Far eastern Arizona has a slight chance of isolated showers or thunderstorms over the next few afternoons, though dry weather is expected to prevail through the weekend for most of the region.

For more information, visit azdeq.gov/forecast/phoenix or call 602-771-2300.