Weather due to improve on Friday
While Rhode Island "north of 138" is going to be hot and muggy for through Thursday night, it's South County and along the south coast where there will be very unhealthy air - ground level ozone at unhealthy levels.
The air quality warning will be in effect all day Thursday until 11 PM. South County is also under a heat advisory, even though our temperatures are not expected to be as scorching as Providence today and tomorrow.
The elderly, those with heart conditions or breathing problems should avoid strenuous activity today.
Please keep reading to see the official NOAA and RIDEM notices, which have been extended through Thursday..
NOAA Air Quality Alert
WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WEST GREENWICH...WARWICK ...BRISTOL ...NARRAGANSETT...WESTERLY ...NEWPORT ...BLOCK ISLAND
...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT HAS ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY FOR GROUND LEVEL OZONE...IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING.
AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY MEANS THAT GROUND LEVEL OZONE CONCENTRATIONS WITHIN THE REGION MAY APPROACH OR EXCEED UNHEALTHY STANDARDS.
RIDEM OZONE ALERT - HEALTH ADVISORY - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20,
2012
All RIPTA routes,
excluding special services, will be free on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2012.
Providence , Rhode Island , July
19, 2012 - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is
predicting that air quality will reach unhealthy levels in most of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The Department of Health warns that unhealthy levels of ozone can cause throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection and and aggravation of asthma and other respiratory ailments. These symptoms are worsened by exercise and heavy activity. The children, elderly and people who have underlying lung diseases, such as asthma, are at particular risk of suffering from these effects. As ozone levels increase, the number of people affected and the severity of the health effects also increase.
To avoid experiencing these effects, limit outdoor exercise and strenuous activity and stay in an air-conditioned environment if possible during the afternoon and early evening hours, when ozone levels are highest. Schedule outdoor exercise and children's outdoor activities in the morning hours. Individuals who experience respiratory symptoms may wish to consult their doctors.
The unhealthy levels of ozone are expected to last as long as the hot sunny weather is present. The Rhode Island Chapter of the American Lung Association reminds people that "when you can't breathe nothing else matters."
Below are some ways that you can help contribute to lower ground level ozone levels and cleaner air:
The Department of Health warns that unhealthy levels of ozone can cause throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection and and aggravation of asthma and other respiratory ailments. These symptoms are worsened by exercise and heavy activity. The children, elderly and people who have underlying lung diseases, such as asthma, are at particular risk of suffering from these effects. As ozone levels increase, the number of people affected and the severity of the health effects also increase.
To avoid experiencing these effects, limit outdoor exercise and strenuous activity and stay in an air-conditioned environment if possible during the afternoon and early evening hours, when ozone levels are highest. Schedule outdoor exercise and children's outdoor activities in the morning hours. Individuals who experience respiratory symptoms may wish to consult their doctors.
The unhealthy levels of ozone are expected to last as long as the hot sunny weather is present. The Rhode Island Chapter of the American Lung Association reminds people that "when you can't breathe nothing else matters."
Below are some ways that you can help contribute to lower ground level ozone levels and cleaner air:
- Limit
driving. Avoid
unnecessary car trips. Carpool, walk or ride the bus or a bicycle [exercising
appropriate caution if you have heart or lung problems where you might
succumb to today’s hazardous conditions] whenever possible.
- Minimize
starts and avoid unnecessary acceleration. Vehicle emissions are highest
during starting and acceleration.
- Reduce
idling. Avoid
congested traffic and lines at drive-through windows.
- Drive
your lowest emission vehicle. Use
the most fuel-efficient, usually the newest, car you have whenever
possible.
- Refuel
at stations which have vapor recovery. Fill your tank at a station which
is equipped with a Stage II vapor recovery system. Don't top off.
- Maintain
your vehicle. Get a
tune-up at the beginning of each summer.
- Minimize
lawn mower emissions. Tune-up
your lawn mower and use electric or handpowered equipment if possible.
- Limit
use of solvent-based household products. Use water-based or low solvent
paints, varnishes, cleaners, and personal care products.
- Limit
barbecue emissions. Use
an electric starter instead of lighter fluid to start charcoal fires, or
use an electric, natural gas, or propane grill.
NOAA Heat Advisory
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON
357 AM EDT WED JUN 20 2012
TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF. ..UNION ... VERNON GLOUCESTER ...PLYMOUTH ...FALL RIVER ...NEW BEDFORD BRISTOL WESTERLY NEWPORT
357 AM EDT WED JUN 20 2012
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A HEAT ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING.
* HAZARDS...HEAT ADVISORY.
* LOCATIONS...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...RHODE ISLAND...EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHEAST NEW HAMPSHIRE .
* HEAT INDEX VALUES...UP TO 101.
* TIMING...NOON TO 7 PM THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.
* IMPACTS...HEAT INDICES UP TO 101 DEGREES WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FOR THOSE SPENDING PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME OUTSIDE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. AVOID PROLONGED WORK IN THE SUN OR IN POORLY VENTILATED AREAS. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK IN ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.
NOAA Hazardous Weather Outlook
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON
426 AM EDT WED JUN 20 2012
SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-426 AM EDT WED JUN 20 2012
...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND .
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
AIR QUALITY ALERT.
HEAT ADVISORY.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF CONTINUED HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS. MAXIMUM HEAT INDICES SHOULD REACH AROUND 100 DEGREES. HEAT ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED IN PORTIONS OF THE REGION.