Front Range Ozone Action Day Alert Until at least 4 p.m. 07/12/2021

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council have issued an OZONE ACTION DAY ALERT at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 11, 2021 for the Front Range Urban Corridor from Douglas County north to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver-Boulder area, Fort Collins and Greeley.

Warm, stagnant weather conditions combined with abundant wildfire smoke in the atmosphere will result in ozone concentrations reaching the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category Monday afternoon and evening. Ozone concentrations in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category will be possible throughout the northern Front Range region, including Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins, Greeley, surrounding areas, and the local foothills to the west of the I-25 corridor.

This Ozone Action Day Alert will remain in effect until at least 4 p.m. Monday, July 12, 2021.

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

The highest Ozone related AQI at 7 o'clock AM Mountain Standard Time on July 12, 2021, is 71 which indicates Moderate ozone air quality. It was recorded by the NREL ambient ozone monitor. Unusually sensitive individuals may experience respiratory symptoms. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

The highest Particulate Matter (PM2.5) related AQI at 7 o'clock AM Mountain Standard Time on July 12, 2021, is 56 which indicates Moderate Particulate Matter (PM2.5) air quality. It was recorded by the NJH ambient monitor. 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:
Monday, July 12, 2021, 7:30 AM MDT

Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Monday. On Monday, much of the northern Front Range region, including Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins, Greeley, and surrounding areas will be in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range for ozone. In these areas, active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion from noon until 10 pm on Monday. Elsewhere throughout the Colorado Front Range, Moderate concentrations of ozone are expected. Please see fine particulate matter below for health recommendations.

Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Monday. Moderate concentrations of fine particulates are possible throughout the Front Range region due to the transport of out-of-state wildfire smoke. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on Monday.

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

Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Monday.

Visibility in Denver on Monday is expected to be Poor.

COLORADO SMOKE OUTLOOK:
Monday, July 12, 2021, 7:00 AM MDT

Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke

Issued for Routt, Jackson, Grand, and Summit Counties
Issued at 7:00 AM MDT, Monday, July 12, 2021

Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Affected Area: Routt, Jackson, Grand, and Summit Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Glen Eden, Clark, Steamboat Springs, Kremmling, Granby, Breckenridge, and Silverthorne.

Advisory in Effect: 7:00 AM MDT, Monday, July 12, 2021 to 9:00 AM MDT, Tuesday, July 12, 2021.

Public Health Recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.

Outlook: Areas of moderate to heavy smoke have been observed Monday morning across the advisory area, particularly for northern Routt County in close vicinity to the Morgan Creek wildfire. Smoke will gradually decrease late Monday morning near the fire as atmospheric mixing increases, however smoke could increase again throughout the advisory area during the mid to late afternoon hours as the fire becomes more active and smoke transported from out-of-state wildfires begins to increase. By late Monday evening, smoke will begin to drain to lower elevations surrounding the fire bringing periods of heavy smoke to areas along Morgan and Reed Creeks, the Elk River Valley, and eventually impacting the communities of Glen Eden and Clark through early Tuesday morning. Smoke will also impact areas to the southeast downwind of the fire, especially interior mountain valleys, including the I-70 corridor in Summit County.

Smoke from out-of-state wildfires will continue to impact Colorado on Monday. Hazy skies and elevated levels of fine particulates can be expected statewide. For areas not covered by the above advisory, unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on Monday.

What if there is a wildfire or smoke in your area?
The focus of the Colorado Smoke Outlook is on large fires (e.g., greater than 100 acres in size). Nevertheless, smoke from smaller fires, prescribed fires, and/or smoke from new fires not yet known to
CDPHE air quality meteorologists may cause locally heavy smoke. If there is smoke in your neighborhood, see the public health recommendations below.

Public health recommendations for areas affected by smoke:
If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. IF VISIBILITY IS LESS THAN 5 MILES IN SMOKE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SMOKE HAS REACHED LEVELS THAT ARE UNHEALTHY.

Summer Ozone Program
Ground-level ozone is an air pollution problem that impacts the health of all Coloradans. Exposure can cause acute respiratory problems and trigger asthma attacks. During Ozone Action Alerts, avoid rigorous outdoor activity during the heat of the day. Prolonged exposure can cause long-lasting damage to your lungs.

You CAN make a difference by doing your part to improve air quality along Denver's Front Range. Combining or skipping just two car trips a week has a positive impact on our air quality. Find other easy solutions that fit your lifestyle from Simple Steps. Better Air. ( www.SimpleStepsBetterAir.org ), a program of the Regional Air Quality Council.

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)