Denver Metro Action Day for Particulates & Visibility Indoor Burning Restriction

This is the Denver Metro Air Pollution Forecast effective 4PM on Thursday, March 18, 2021:

An Action Day for Particulates and Visibility 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, March 19, 2021. Poor visibility and an exceedance of the state visibility standard are expected on Friday.
Stagnant weather conditions will allow Fine Particulate concentrations to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category on Friday.

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 6AM (MST), Friday, 3/19/2021 the highest AQI value was 90 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, March 19, 2021, 7:00 AM MDT

Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Friday. Moderate concentrations of ozone will mainly be confined to locations along the I-25 corridor from Denver northward to Ft. Collins during the afternoon hours. For health recommendations, see fine particulate matter below.

Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Friday. Fine particulate concentrations in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category are possible throughout the northern Front Range region, including Denver, Boulder, Longmont, Ft. Collins, Greeley, and surrounding areas. In all these areas, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children, should reduce 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, particularly during peak traffic periods. For health recommendations, see fine particulate matter above.

Visibility in Denver on Friday is expected to be Poor.

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)