Ozone Alert Days Prompted By Unhealthy Atmosphere

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality declared Tuesday another Ozone Alert Day.

Officials say the unhealthy ozone levels can take a toll on people dealing with respiratory issues. An air quality map produced by the DEQ showed Tulsa County having an “unhealthy” atmosphere, advising everyone to limit exposure outside. The News On 6 Oklahoma Weather Experts say health issues can ramp up on Ozone Alert Days, especially for those with respiratory issues.

“Ozone in the upper part of the atmosphere is very good,” said News On 6 Meteorologist Alan Crone. “It helps to filter out the harmful UV rays and other things that are trying to come into the atmosphere.”

Crone says ozone in the lower part of the atmosphere is not so good. A combination of moisture in the air, lots of sunshine, and light winds are ideal conditions for an Ozone Alert Day. There are steps everyone can take to prevent emissions from getting into the environment. Those include filling up your car with gas in the morning or evening, postponing jobs like mowing the lawn, and carpooling.

Crone says this type of weather pattern is common for June, so more Ozone Alert Days are likely in store. The DEQ has already declared Wednesday an Ozone Alert Day for the Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas.