Air quality was again poor on Tuesday, but it wasn’t the smoke causing the most trouble. This time, Ozone was the primary offender as strong July sun broke pollutants into the highly reactive gas. Although Canadian wildfire smoke was present, its higher altitude kept ground levels moderate and nowhere near the problem it was in late June.
Sensitive groups, mostly those with asthma, were warned by 2 p.m. Tuesday to be aware of the ozone; by 5 p.m. the air had become unhealthy for everyone, and by 7 o’clock last evening the worst air quality reading recorded here so far – 213 – was detected by a monitor serving northern Ozaukee and all of Sheboygan County. At that level, which remained until 11 p.m., even healthy people were advised to avoid the outdoors for long periods of time, while those with asthma were advised to keep quick-relief medicine handy.
Moderate air quality is forecast for the next three days, but the “dog days of summer”, known for hot, humid weather, are upon us. And while scattered showers and storms along with Lake Michigan’s waters will help cool the air a bit today, highs in the 80s are forecast for the rest of the workweek.
Comments