Ozone Alert

For the second time this year, the Birmingham Metro Area has been placed under an Ozone Alert. That means that unhealthy concentrations of pollutants trapped in the air over Jefferson and Shelby Counties could be harmful if you are outdoors for long periods of time. The Air Quality Index is forecast to be 106 on Thursday, which is in the orange category. Active children and adults, as well as people with lung disease, should reduce prolonged activity or heavy exertion outdoors. Why the air quality alert for tomorrow? A ridge in the upper atmosphere (a pocket of warm air aloft) is spreading east from the Plains. The air underneath ridges like that is sinking, and because of a process called adiabatic warming, a temperature inversion develops and prevents the atmosphere from mixing up and down. That mixing process normally disperses polluted air, but when the air can't mix, we suffer the consequences down below with thick haze and unhealthy air. What can you do to help out on Ozone Alert days? First of all, carpool if you can. The fewer cars there are on the road, the less pollution from emissions. Try to avoid drive-thrus and jack-rabbit starts from red lights. Do not mow your lawn on Ozone Alert days, and avoid burning leaves or trash! For more information on Air Quality in the Birmingham Metro Area, click here: Jefferson County Health Department