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.
-
Speeding concerns on Meridian Street reach new high following deadly crash
Residents in one north side neighborhood are raising new concerns over speeding issues on North Meridian Street following a deadly crash over the weekend.
University of Indianapolis helps research ways to improve literacy rates
The Department of Education's latest IREAD assessment shows third-grade reading scores made their biggest single-year jump since testing started in 2013.
Police investigating dozens of car break-ins across neighborhoods in Fishers
Fishers police are investigating a rash of vehicle break-ins over the weekend that left dozens of residents with shattered windows and costly repairs.
Boone County commissioners deny RL Turner rezoning request
After months of neighbors pleading with their Boone County commissioners to vote against rezoning farmland, the commissioners made their decision Monday morning.
