INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued an Air Quality Action Day for Saturday.
The forecast shows high ozone levels throughout Indiana. The following Central Indiana counties will be under the action day status.
- Marion
- Bartholomew
- Boone
- Brown
- Delaware
- Hamilton
- Hendricks
- Howard
- Madison
- Shelby
Other counties in the state under the action day status include:
- Clark
- Floyd
- Daviess
- Dubois
- Gibson
- Greene
- Knox
- Perry
- Pike
- Posey
- Spencer
- Vanderburgh
- Warrick
- Vigo
- Carroll
- Tippecanoe
The included counties are all equipped with ozone air quality monitors to track their levels, but it is advised all counties in the action status should be vigilant of the forecast.
To track the air quality information IDEM has a SmogWatch forecast.
AQADs typically occur when weather conditions such as light winds, hot and dry air, stagnant conditions and lower atmospheric inversions trap pollutants close to the ground, according to IDEM.
IDEM said anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, people who are elderly and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or try to avoid heavy work outdoors during the advised period.
The recommendation IDEM has for everyone during this time is to modify certain daily habits by following these suggestions:
- Drive less: carpool, use public transportation, walk, bike, or work from home when possible
- Combine errands into one trip
- Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
- Keep your engine tuned, and do not let your engine idle (e.g., at a bank or restaurant drive-thru)
- Conserve energy by turning off lights and setting the thermostat to 75 degrees or above
The action day is in effect in the counties listed until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday.
-
Bloomington hopes small lots in new neighborhood can counter housing crisis
The future Hopewell neighborhood is Bloomington's largest housing development plan. The city hopes to keep Hopewell affordable by thinking small.
How Purdue's 'Asthma Herd' horses could breathe new life into asthma research
What comes to mind when you think about asthma? For Dr. Laurent Couetil, horses are top of mind. His focus is to learn more about asthma in horses - what causes it and how to treat it.
Residents shaken after gunfire damages homes and cars in Fishers' neighborhood
Homes and cars were damaged by gunfire early Sunday morning in Sunblest, one of Fishers' largest subdivisions, leaving longtime residents concerned about safety in their typically quiet neighborhood.
INDOT and lawmakers aware of issue impacting roads and bridges
WRTV Investigates has uncovered problems with concrete pavement in roads and bridges across the state of Indiana.
