Air Quality Alert Issued Wednesday For Bucks County Area

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — An air quality alert has been issued for Wednesday for the Philadelphia region, including Bucks County, as temperatures soar to near triple digits over the next few days.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Code Orange for Wednesday, meaning that the air will be unhealthy for some sensitive groups.

Ozone concentrations along the I-95 corridor will reach the code Orange range during the late afternoon, and PM2.5 levels will remain low to mid-moderate, according to the DEP.

Wednesday's forecast calls for sunshine for the most part, with highs peaking around 97, with heat index values as high as 104. There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m.

In addition to the air quality alert, an Extreme Heat Warning is in effect from 12 p.m. on July 1 until 8 p.m. on July 4.

Intense and dangerous heat is forecast to continue through the Fourth. Highs Thursday and Friday will top 100 degrees with ozone and PM2.5 in the moderate range. Caution should be observed and outdoor activity should be limited during the afternoons.

The chance for afternoon and evening thunderstorms increases over the holiday weekend as shortwave low-pressure systems coming down from the north gradually break down the heat ridge. Temperatures should return closer to normal by early next week.

Current air quality monitoring data for the Philadelphia Area and other locations across Pennsylvania can be found at the EPA’s AirNow Interactive Map.

For information on the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the health effects of ozone and PM-2.5, visit the EPA’s AirNow AQI & Health webpage.