Air quality alert issued for smoky, hazy skies along the Front Range

DENVER ( KDVR ) — An ozone action day alert has been issued for Monday by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment due to smoke.

The ozone action day alert will be in effect until at least 4 p.m. on Monday for those living in the Front Range urban corridor from Douglas County north to Larimer and Weld counties. This area includes the Denver-Boulder area, Fort Collins and Greeley.

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the air quality is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups with only moderate ozone air quality.

“Although showers and thunderstorms will limit ozone production on Sunday, higher ozone concentrations are expected on Monday. Ozone concentrations in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category will be possible throughout the northern Front Range region, including Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins, and surrounding areas,” said CDPHE.

Skies will remain hazy on Monday as wildfire smoke from Canada filters in.

The CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division said the smoke will be noticeable early in the day across the north-central mountains, including Rocky Mountain National Park. The smoke will then increase across the lower elevations during the late morning to afternoon hours.

How to stay safe during air quality alert

The National Weather Service has offered the following tips on how to stay safe on Monday while the action alert day is in effect.

• Stay inside if possible, especially if you have respiratory concerns or other health problems
• If you must go outside, limit the amount of time you are out to strictly essential activities
• Minimize your use of items that increase pollution, such as cars, gas-powered lawn mowers and other vehicles
• Do not burn debris or other items during an air quality alert

The Pinpoint Weather team is tracking a drying trend in the upcoming week with very few storms to clear the air. Be sure to keep up with the CDPHE for further air quality alerts.

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