An Ozone Action Day has been declared for Thursday, August 12th, 2021! Ozone has the potential to reach the unhealthy for sensitive groups category for locations along the I-95 corridor. Sensitive individuals, including the very young, the elderly, and persons with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should avoid strenuous activities during the afternoon and early evening hours. The heat and humidity will continue into Thursday with mostly sunny skies, light southwesterly winds, and hot temperatures. Meanwhile, increased humidity will allow fine particle concentrations to remain in the moderate category for urban locations. 8/13
The oppressive heat will continue into Friday with similar hazy, hot, and humid conditions as the past few days. As a result, ozone will reach the upper moderate category with the potential of reaching the USG category in isolated locations. The threat for afternoon thunderstorm development remains a possibility which may help to limit ozone formation for isolated areas. Levels of fine particle concentrations will remain in the moderate category for urban locations due to increased humidity. 8/14 – A cold front will approach the Garden State early on Saturday and will slowly make its way south and east by mid-day. At this time, it is expected to stall along the I-95 corridor allowing the chance for showers and thunderstorms to develop.
Behind the front, expect a relief from the heat and humidity as a clean and cooler air mass will arrive. As a result, air quality will average in the good to moderate range. 8/15 – Temperatures reaching the low 80s, sunny skies, and winds out of the north/northeast will keep air quality in the good range for Sunday. 8/16 – A quiet summer day is forecast to start the workweek with mostly sunny skies, temperatures reaching the mid-80s, and light winds. Northeasterly winds in the morning will give way to onshore winds in the afternoon keeping ozone and fine particle concentrations in the upper good to low moderate threshold.