UPDATE: 5:46 P.M., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

The Evansville Courier and Press reports the alert has been extended through the day Wednesday.

ORIGINAL STORY

Despite the first day of Autumn (Fall) coming up this Thursday, Summer isn't quite ready to let go. Above normal temperatures, higher humidity, and not much wind has it still feeling like mid-to-late-July in the Tri-State. It's also prompted the Environmental Protection Agency in Evansville, and the Vanderburgh County Health Department to issue an Air Quality Alert for the area until 8:00 p.m. tonight.

According to a statement from the National Weather Service (NWS), the aforementioned conditions, along with "other factors" will cause ozone emissions to rise above what the federal government considers safe.

The full statement from the NWS reads as follows:

INZ086-210100-
VANDERBURGH-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...EVANSVILLE
754 PM CDT MON SEP 19 2016

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM CDT TUESDAY...

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IN EVANSVILLE INDIANA AND THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS CALLED FOR AN OZONE ALERT FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20. AN OZONE ALERT MEANS THAT A COMBINATION OF HIGH TEMPERATURES, LIGHT WINDS, AND OTHER FACTORS ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH LEVELS OF OZONE EMISSIONS MAY EXCEED FEDERALLY MANDATED STANDARDS. THE ALERT IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM CDT TUESDAY.

 

A CODE ORANGE AIR QUALITY ALERT FOR OZONE HAS BEEN ISSUED. MEMBERS OF SENSITIVE GROUPS MAY EXPERIENCE HEALTH EFFECTS. THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS NOT LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED. OZONE
CONCENTRATIONS MAY REACH OR EXCEED THE LEVEL OF THE NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS. WITHIN A FEW HOURS OR DAYS...
EXPOSURE TO HIGHER LEVELS OF OZONE CAN CAUSE LUNG AND THROAT IRRITATION...SHORTNESS OF BREATH...INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF
ASTHMA ATTACKS...AND AGGRAVATE RESPIRATORY DISEASES SUCH AS...ASTHMA...EMPHYSEMA...AND BRONCHITIS. CHILDREN...ACTIVE ADULTS...
AND PEOPLE WITH RESPIRATORY DISEASES SHOULD LIMIT PROLONGED OUTDOOR EXERTION...ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING WHEN LEVELS ARE THE HIGHEST. NO OPEN BURNING IS ALLOWED DURING AIR
QUALITY ALERTS.

 

HERE ARE SOME RECOMMENDED TIPS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF EMISSIONS. DELAY ANY DRIVING THAT IS NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY...SINCE AUTO
EMISSIONS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO OZONE FORMATION. CONSIDER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IF AVAILABLE. IF YOU HAVE A RESPIRATORY ILLNESS...REMAIN INDOORS WITH AIR CONDITIONING IF POSSIBLE.
POSTPONE REFUELING YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL AFTER 6 PM; DON`T TOP-OFF THE TANK WHEN FILLING UP. TRY TO AVOID THE USE OF GAS-POWERED LAWN
AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT BETWEEN 10 AM AND 6 PM. LIMIT THE USE OF MATERIALS CONTAINING VOCS, SUCH AS PAINT, PAINT THINNERS, OR
CLEANING FLUIDS.

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