Pennsylvania DEP issued a Code Orange ozone alert for eastern and southcentral Pennsylvania on Monday, warning children, older adults and people with respiratory conditions to limit heavy outdoor activity as heat and sunshine drove up ozone risk.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection issued a Code Orange air quality alert for ozone on Monday, May 18, covering eastern and southcentral Pennsylvania as hot, sunny weather increased the risk of unhealthy air for sensitive groups.
The alert applied to counties including Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Berks, Northampton, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Lancaster and York. DEP said mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the lower and middle 90s would help drive ozone to Code Orange levels.
Code Orange means air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups. DEP advised children, older adults and people with respiratory conditions to avoid heavy outdoor activity during the alert.
Local coverage from CBS Philadelphia and 6abc reported the alert during the same heat event. 6abc said the warning remained in effect until midnight Monday.
Ozone alerts often follow stretches of hot, sunny weather, when pollutants can build up near the ground. DEP’s notice was the official warning for the day, with no separate follow-up update identified in the available reporting.
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