Summer is here. To get ready, MPCA has redesigned its Air Quality Index (AQI) forecasting and alert program. Previously limited to the Twin Cities and Rochester, this summer the MPCA will start forecasting air quality conditions statewide.
Starting June 1, MPCA meteorologists will issue daily air quality forecasts for 17 locations across the state. This means people who may be sensitive to elevated levels of air pollution - including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems - can be better prepared to protect their health when conditions are trending toward poor air quality.
The AQI forecasts will now look out three days, and will focus on the color-coded, health-based AQI categories set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Green means the air is expected to be healthy for all.
- Yellow means moderate.
- Orange means unhealthy for sensitive groups.
- Red (rarely seen in Minnesota) means unhealthy for all.
The MPCA will continue to issue air quality alerts whenever the AQI is expected to be in either the orange or red categories. This enhanced forecasting ability should be helpful to Minnesotans who are planning road trips, outdoor sporting events, or daily exercise routines - especially for people who are sensitive to air pollution.
To expand the reach of air quality alerts, the MPCA has partnered with the six National Weather Service offices that serve Minnesota to include air quality alerts in their watch/warning/advisory dissemination system. In addition to the NWS helping to get the word out, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will also continue providing notifications of air quality alerts on the travel alert signs seen by commuters across the Twin Cities.
Air quality alerts will include new language developed by the MPCA and the Minnesota Department of Health to help citizens understand the potential health impacts of poor air quality, along with tips for reducing air pollution.
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Air pollution can harm people who have heart and cardiovascular disease, as well as those with lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. If you or people you know are sensitive to air quality, the MPCA encourages you to become “air aware” by signing up to receive air quality forecasts and alerts. You can find additional information about health and Minnesota’s indoor and outdoor air quality at www.beairawaremn.org .
