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Air Quality Forecast
Air Quality Data
Current and expected air quality concentrations for the upcoming 24 hours. Air quality forecasts are scheduled to be updated by 3:00 pm weekdays and other times as necessary. Forecasts are also available on the Bureau's Air Quality Hotline at (800) 223-1196.
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Forecasts on Twitter.Special status notes:
IMPORTANT WINTER NOTES: ***1) Particle pollution (fine particle) levels often rise during the overnight hours. This occurs mostly on calm, clear, cold nights when inversions form and behave like a cap keeping pollution from lifting high above the surface. You can see the inversion layer because smoke from heating devices will hover like a blanket. Higher terrain will trap pollution in valleys and 'bowls'. If the air doesn't mix well during the day, or many heating devices are concentrated in a valley area, the 24 hour average of particle pollution can reach the Moderate range for the day. ***2) Coarse particles levels will rise near roadways and parking lots as the sand & salt is stirred up by winds or vehicle traffic. This is most likely in the days following a winter storm. Once the sand/salt mixture dries out it is stirred up more easily.
Today's Forecast: Jan 24, 2020
| Region | Ozone | Particle |
|---|---|---|
| Northern | Good | Moderate |
| Western Mtns | Good | Moderate |
| Western Interior | Good | Moderate |
| Eastern Interior | Good | Moderate |
| Southwest Coast | Good | Moderate |
| Mid-Coast | Good | Good |
| Downeast | Good | Good |
| High Elevation | Good | Good |
Ozone
Particle Pollution
Forecast Details: NOWCAST Friday January 24 at 7;58 AM: Friday's Air Quality Forecast for Ozone is GOOD statewide while Particle Pollution is MODERATE for the Northern, Western Mountains, Western Interior, Eastern Interior and Southwest Coastal regions and GOOD for the remainder of the state. [NOWCAST adds the Eastern Interior region to the moderate forecast. A cold front will be dropping down through Maine before breaking up in the Gulf of Maine. Overnight winds will be light. Some clouds will be present but not likely low enough to prevent inversions from forming. During the day winds pick up from the north and northeast which is typically a clean direction. The regions listed as Moderate above the potential for the hours before noon to be high enough that the 24 hour average for the day could be Moderate.] -- Webster
Tomorrow's Forecast: Jan 25, 2020
| Region | Ozone | Particle |
|---|---|---|
| Northern | Good | Moderate |
| Western Mtns | Good | Good |
| Western Interior | Good | Good |
| Eastern Interior | Good | Good |
| Southwest Coast | Good | Good |
| Mid-Coast | Good | Good |
| Downeast | Good | Good |
| High Elevation | Good | Good |
Ozone
Particle Pollution
Forecast Details: Updated Friday January 24 at 1:23 PM: Saturday's Air Quality Forecast for Ozone is GOOD statewide while Particle Pollution is MODERATE for the Northern region and GOOD for the remainder of the state. [Winds are light for most of the state overnight with mostly cloudy skies and winds pick up during the day. So most areas are expected to have a 24 hr average in the GOOD range. For the northern region clouds build in later and winds don't pick up as much as early in the day so that region has the potential for a 24 hr average in the moderate range.] -- Webster
Forecast regions are used to refer to general geographic areas of the state and air pollution obviously is not contained by these boundaries. If a region adjacent to the region containing your particular town is forecasted to have poorer air quality than your region, you might consider noting the health effects associated with the poorer air quality and take appropriate actions.
| Air Quality Descriptor | Color Code | Health Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Good | GREEN | No Health Notice. No health impacts expected in this range. It’s a great day to be active outside! |
| Moderate | YELLOW | Limited Health Notice. Sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. These are signs to take it easy. |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | ORANGE | Health Notice. People with heart or lung disease, the elderly, teenagers and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. It is okay to be active outside, but take more breaks and do less intense activities. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. Asthmatics should follow their action plans and keep quick relief meds handy. Those with heart disease should watch for palpitations, shortness of breath or unusual fatigue and contact your health provider of necessary. |
| Unhealthy | RED | Health Advisory. People with heart or lung disease, the elderly, teenagers and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Take more breaks during all outdoor activities. |
| Very Unhealthy | PURPLE | Health Alert. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, teenagers and children should avoid any outdoor activity. Move activities indoors or reschedule to a time when air quality is better. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling to a time when air quality is better. |
View more information about Air Quality Index and Health Effects.
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