Air Quality Alert Issued for Parts of Texas as Officials Announce Ozone Action Day

Officials have declared Wednesday to be Ozone Action Day and have issued an Air Quality Alert for some areas of Texas.

Warmer today with mostly sunny to partly overcast skies and temperatures in the upper 80s as well as the 90s. While little rain is forecast elsewhere, a storm might approach and cross the Rio Grande in the late afternoon or early evening

Air Quality Alert: Austin and San Antonio

According to s statement from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the day is proclaimed Ozone Action Day for the San Antonio and Austin region on May 18, 2023.

It is anticipated that atmospheric conditions would be suitable for creating air pollution with high ozone concentrations in the San Antonio and Austin region on Thursday.

Sharing a taxi or walking helps reduce ozone pollution, as well as taking a lunch break at work, cycling, or not driving through lanes, saving fuel, and maintaining a vehicle correctly tuned.

The following Ozone Action Day will be announced by 3 PM, if necessary.

the 18th of May 2023, according to the National Weather Service.

Ozone Action Day

The TCEQ notifies the public when predicted conditions may result in Ozone Action Days each day throughout the ozone season, which in Texas lasts from around March through November. Ozone levels are higher than usual these days, which might affect people's health by lowering the quality of air that the people breathe in.

Daily Ozone Action Day (OAD) forecasts are made by TCEQ meteorologists for 17 significant Texas regions.

The forecast seasons for Ozone Action Day are determined by the likelihood of elevated ozone concentrations in each region. Each forecast indicates whether the EPA's AQI Level Orange for ozone in a particular area is anticipated to be met or exceeded the next day.

These predictions are made by TCEQ meteorologists using a collection of parameters from historical meteorological data, and ozone metrics, in addition to ozone prediction models. The TCEQ contacts officials in the impacted areas so that local groups can alert their media, government, business, and industry.

The TCEQ contacts the National Weather Service when they forecast an Ozone Action Day, which then broadcasts the information across its "weather wire." Most of the time, Ozone Action Days are declared by 2 PM local time and are in effect until the next day, as per Take Care of Texas.

EPA's AQI Level Orange

Think of the AQI as a scale with a 0 to 500 range, where higher AQI readings indicate higher levels of air pollution and consequent health risks. For instance, a score of 50 or less on the AQI indicates good air quality, whereas a score of more than 300 indicates harmful air quality.

Six categories make up the AQI. Additionally, each group has a unique color. The color allows people to instantly determine whether the air quality in their neighborhoods has deteriorated.

When the index falls between 101 and 150, the air quality index is at level orange, which is unhealthy for vulnerable populations nearby. Members of sensitive groups may face negative health effects, according to this AQI color. It is less likely that the general population will be impacted, according to AirNow.