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Front Range
Ozone Action Day Alert
Until at least 4 p.m. 06/30/2024

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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council have issued an OZONE ACTION DAY ALERT at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2024 for the Front Range Urban Corridor from Douglas County north to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver-Boulder area, Fort Collins and Greeley.

While Ozone concentrations are expected to remain in the Good to Moderate range on Saturday, warmer and more stagnant conditions on Sunday will allow for more Ozone development. Ozone is expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups level on Sunday, especially in western portions of the Front Range Region.

This Ozone Action Day Alert will remain in effect until at least 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30, 2024.

For statewide conditions, forecasts and advisories, visit:
https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

The highest Ozone related AQI at 8 o'clock AM Mountain Standard Time on June 30, 2024, is 42 which indicates Good ozone air quality. It was recorded by the AURE ambient ozone monitor.

The highest Particulate Matter (PM2.5) related AQI at 8 o'clock AM Mountain Standard Time on June 30, 2024, is 30 which indicates Good Particulate Matter (PM2.5) air quality. It was recorded by the I25GLO ambient monitor.


Front Range Air Quality Forecast & Colorado Smoke Outlook
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FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST:
Saturday, June 29, 2024, 2:15 PM MDT

Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Saturday, and in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Sunday. Ozone concentrations at the Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups level on Sunday are most likely for western Portions of the northern Front Range region, from Fort Collins to Golden. In these locations, active children and adults, and people with lung disease such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion between the hours of noon and 8 pm. Elsewhere along the Front Range, and on Saturday, unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion between noon and 8 pm.

Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Saturday and Sunday.

Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Saturday and Sunday.

Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Saturday and Sunday.

Visibility on Sunday is expected to be Good to Moderate.

COLORADO SMOKE OUTLOOK:
Saturday, June 29, 2024, 2:20 PM MDT

The Oak Ridge Fire is burning near the Pueblo/Custer County line, approximately 3 miles northwest of Beulah. Smoke impacts have remained light in areas near the fire. Thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, which can produce gusty, erratic winds that could send smoke in any direction. Primary smoke impacts during the daytime hours are expected to remain highly localized to areas in the immediate vicinity of the fire, with little public health impacts anticipated. As the winds decrease during the late evening and overnight hours, smoke will settle in low lying terrain in areas below the fire, and light to moderate smoke is possible in Beulah.Individuals who are unusually sensitive to smoke should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion in areas where smoke is apparent.

Light to moderate concentrations of smoke are also possible near small wildfires and prescribed burns around the state.

What if there is a wildfire or smoke in your area?
The focus of the Colorado Smoke Outlook is on large fires (e.g., greater than 100 acres in size). Nevertheless, smoke from smaller fires, prescribed fires, and/or smoke from new fires not yet known to CDPHE air quality meteorologists may cause locally heavy smoke. If there is smoke in your neighborhood, see the public health recommendations below.

Public health recommendations for areas affected by smoke:
If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. To temporarily relocate to an area with better air quality, consider using this map (https://fire.airnow.gov/) to identify the best area closest to you. IF VISIBILITY IS LESS THAN 5 MILES IN SMOKE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SMOKE HAS REACHED LEVELS THAT ARE UNHEALTHY.

Summer Ozone Program
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Ground-level ozone is an air pollution problem that impacts the health of all Coloradans. Exposure can cause acute respiratory problems and trigger asthma attacks. During Ozone Action Alerts, avoid rigorous outdoor activity during the heat of the day. Prolonged exposure can cause long-lasting damage to your lungs.

You CAN make a difference by doing your part to improve air quality along Denver's Front Range. Even during periods of wildfire smoke, reducing your personal emissions can help decrease ozone production. Combining or skipping just two car trips a week has a positive impact on our air quality. Find other easy solutions that fit your lifestyle from Simple Steps. Better Air. (http://www.SimpleStepsBetterAir.org), a program of the Regional Air Quality Council.

Additional Information
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WHAT IS AN ACTION DAY?: An Action Day for fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone or other pollutants indicates that either current air quality is unhealthy or conditions are expected to worsen later in the day or on the next day. Action Days for air pollutants generally indicate that air quality will be in either the Unhealthy or Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups categories according to the Air Quality Index. Action Days always convey overarching public health recommendations, and, according to season, trigger a variety of mandatory and voluntary pollution prevention measures. For example, during the summer open burning is prohibited when an Action Day for ozone and/or fine particulates is in effect. During the winter, residential burning restrictions are in effect when an Action Day for Visibility is in effect.

For a detailed description of both the AIR QUALITY INDEX and the VISIBILITY STANDARD INDEX please visit https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/brochure.aspx

COLORADO OPEN BURN FORECAST:
For those with permits for open burning, that is the burning of waste materials or vegetation outside, check the following webpage to find out if open burning is allowed today. Keep in mind that open burning is prohibited when an Action Day is in effect:
https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/burn_forecast.aspx

FOR CURRENT FRONT RANGE ACTION DAYS/ADVISORIES:
https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/advisory.aspx

FOR CURRENT AIR QUALITY CONDITIONS STATEWIDE:
https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/air_quality.aspx

SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.facebook.com/cdphe.apcd
https://twitter.com/cdpheapcd


AIR QUALITY NOTIFICATIONS:
https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/request_alerts.aspx(CDPHE automated e-mail alerts)
http://www.enviroflash.info/signup.cfm(CDPHE forecasts via automated e-mails from the EPA)