In Valley, experts declare air-quality advisory days
Today's high temperature could break a record for May 30.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Monday and today have been declared air-quality advisory days in the Mahoning Valley because stagnant conditions and warm temperatures are causing high ground level ozone levels.
Ozone levels were expected to reach 106 on the Air Quality Index, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to an alert provided by mahoningvalleyair.org, which is sponsored by Eastgate Regional Council of Governments.
Today both ozone and particle levels are forecast to be 106 or unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The high temperature Monday at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport was 88, two degrees below the record set there in 1990. The National Weather Service predicted that today's high temperature would be 91, which would break the record high for May 30 of 88 set in 1988.
Air-quality conditions are expected to slowly improve toward the end of the week, according to the Web site.
This is the first air-quality advisory of the summer season in the Mahoning Valley. Last year, the first summer air quality advisory was called June 24.
The Web site MahoningValleyAir.org reports that the chances of being affected by poor air quality increase the more strenuous the activity and the longer a person is outdoors.
Other advice is to not refuel vehicles or equipment on days when the AQI levels are high.