Action Day for Particulates Indoor Burning Restrictions in Effect

Ashton Altieri @AshtonCBS4 1hr
We have another Air Quality Alert for the Denver metro area today. Particulates (pollution) will be trapped near the ground causing poor visibility (yucky skies) and less then desirable air quality. Drive less! #cowx #4wx @ChrisCBS4 @DaveCBS4 @LaurenCBS4 @CBS4Dom @BrittMorenoTV



An Action Day for Particulates is now in effect for the seven-county Denver-Boulder metropolitan area. Indoor Burning Restrictions and requests to limit driving of non-ZEV vehicles (i.e., gas or diesel) are now in effect until at least 4 PM Friday, January 29, 2021. Poor visibility and an exceedance of the state visibility standard are expected on Friday.

Although pollution levels are improving for most areas, lingering health impacts from the recent exposure to high concentrations of fine particulates can be expected through Friday afternoon.

For statewide conditions, forecasts and advisories, visit:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

A poorly maintained vehicle pollutes more than a well maintained one. If you must drive, properly maintain your vehicle. We'll all breathe easier!

At 7AM (MST), Friday, 1/29/2021 the highest AQI value was 95 for Particulate less than 2.5 micrometers which indicates Moderate air quality. Respiratory symptoms possible in unusually sensitive individuals, possible aggravation of heart or lung disease in people with cardiopulmonary disease and older adults. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.

Front Range Air Quality Forecast & Colorado Smoke Outlook

FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST:
Friday, January 29, 2021, 7:00 AM MST

Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday.

Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Friday. Although air quality is improving for most areas, lingering health impacts from the recent exposure to high levels of fine particulates can be expected through Friday afternoon. For locations within the Denver Metro area, and northward along the I-25 corridor to Longmont, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion on Friday. Everywhere else in the northern Front Range region, unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on Friday.

Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday.

Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Friday. Moderate concentrations of nitrogen dioxide are most likely for locations near busy roadways during heavy traffic periods. For health recommendations, see fine particulate matter above.

Visibility on Friday is expected to be Moderate.

Winter High Pollution Advisory Program

The Winter High Pollution Advisory Program is coordinated by the Air Pollution Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Winter season air pollution forecasts are issued daily from October 31 through March 31 at 4 p.m. When conditions warrant, forecasts will include information about Action Days and subsequent indoor burning restrictions.

An Action Day for fine particulates, carbon monoxide or ozone indicates that either current air quality is unhealthy or conditions are expected to worsen later in the day or on the next day. Action Days for air pollutants generally indicate that air quality will be in either the Unhealthy or Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups categories according to the Air Quality Index. Action Days trigger mandatory restrictions that limit indoor burning to approved devices only (see indoor burning below), voluntary driving reductions, and public health recommendations.

An Action Day for Visibility alone indicates that the Visibility Standard Index for visual air quality is expected to be poor on the current or following day. An Action Day for Visibility will trigger mandatory restrictions on indoor burning and voluntary driving reductions for the seven-county Denver-Boulder metropolitan area only.

When no advisories are issued, air quality is good or moderate and is expected to remain so during the effective period of the forecast. No restrictions are in place.

Additional Information
WHAT IS AN ACTION DAY?: An Action Day for fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone or other pollutants indicates that either current air quality is unhealthy or conditions are expected to worsen later in the day or on the next day. Action Days for air pollutants generally indicate that air quality will be in either the Unhealthy or Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups categories according to the Air Quality Index. Action Days always convey overarching public health recommendations, and, according to season, trigger a variety of mandatory and voluntary pollution prevention measures. For example, during the summer open burning is prohibited when an Action Day for ozone and/or fine particulates is in effect. During the winter, residential burning restrictions are in effect when an Action Day for Visibility is in effect.

For a detailed description of both the AIR QUALITY INDEX and the VISIBILITY STANDARD INDEX please visit www.colorado.gov/airquality/brochure.aspx

COLORADO OPEN BURN FORECAST: For those with permits for open burning, that is the burning of waste materials or vegetation outside, check the following webpage to find out if open burning is allowed today. Keep in mind that open burning is prohibited when an Action Day is in effect:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/burn_forecast.aspx

FOR CURRENT FRONT RANGE ACTION DAYS/ADVISORIES:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/advisory.aspx

FOR CURRENT AIR QUALITY CONDITIONS STATEWIDE:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/air_quality.aspx

SOCIAL MEDIA:
www.facebook.com/cdphe.apcd
twitter.com/cdpheapcd

AIR QUALITY NOTIFICATIONS:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/request_alerts.aspx (CDPHE automated e-mail alerts)
www.enviroflash.info/signup.cfm (CDPHE forecasts via automated e-mails from the EPA)