Ozone pollution in the current heat wave

[Alex Sagady]

Despite recent warnings over potential ozone pollution
in the current heat wave, not much has happened so far.

Today, Monday, there were excursions over the Ozone National 
Ambient Air Quality Standard  of 70 ppb (8 hour average) only at
the following 3 sites despite the high temperatures....

Muskegon  78 oob
Holland     76  ppb
New Haven (northern Macomb County)   75 ppb

All other ozone monitoring stations in the state were below 

the 70 ppb ozone NAAQS level on Monday.

On Sunday, there were no ozone excursions anywhere in Michigan, 
probably because of elevated wind speeds and significant cloud cover
that interfered with ozone formation.

As for Tuesday abd Wednesday, MDEGLE-AQD meteorologists have this 
to say:

"Tomorrow, Tuesday, will be similar to today with the heat and humidity, however, in the afternoon, clouds move in with associated possible rain showers for the southern portions of the lower peninsula. Numerous models are showing broken to overcast cloudy skies for tomorrow afternoon which would cut off any Ozone development. Also, with possible rain showers, Ozone will not have the ingredients to produce beyond the Advisory threshold of USG for an 8-hour average. In the event some sun shines through the clouds, there may be enough initiation for hourly USG concentrations, but the overall 8-hour average should remain in the mid-high Moderate range."

"Wednesday is looking to similar to today with the heat, humidity, and sunlight so there is a possibility of an Advisory for Wednesday. Because of this, I will update the forecast tomorrow morning, and, more than likely, each morning for the remainder of the week."

Alex Sagady
a...@sagady.com   (517)332-6971