The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC), in conjunction with the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA), is issuing an Air Quality Alert (AQA) for Thursday, June 13, 2024. The AQA is for all areas of Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, and Preble Counties.

The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures to be in the upper 80’s with moderate southerly winds and sunny skies. These conditions are favorable for ground-level ozone formation.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast is 105 for Thursday, June 13, 2024.

Any reading of 101 or higher is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups”. Older adults, children, and anyone with respiratory or cardiac diseases should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep quick-relief medicine handy. Please contact your healthcare provider for recommendations specific to your activities and health conditions. The general public is not likely to be affected and for most people, it is OK to be active outside, but take more breaks and do less strenuous activities.

Take action to reduce air pollution, especially on Air Quality Alert days by:

• AVOID DRIVING IF POSSIBLE. Vehicle emissions cause almost 50% of ground-level ozone. Carpool or take transit or for short trips walk or ride a bike.
• REFUEL YOUR VEHICLE AFTER 8:00 P.M. or if possible wait until after the Air Quality Alert expires. Vapors from gasoline contribute to the smog problem. By refueling after 8:00 p.m. when it’s cooler, smog doesn’t form as easily. Make sure your gas cap fits tightly so gas fumes don’t escape and contribute to the smog problem.
• LIMIT USE OF SMALL GASOLINE-POWERED EQUIPMENT such as lawnmowers, chainsaws, power trimmers, and shredders. Operating a gasoline-powered lawnmower for one hour produces the same amount of pollution as driving a car for eleven hours! Try a non-motorized or battery-powered lawnmower instead.
• MOW YOUR LAWN IN THE EVENING when the sunlight is not as strong and smog is less likely to form.