ST. LOUIS — Light winds are expected across the St. Louis region Friday. With a mix of sun and clouds and the light wind, pollution will accumulate and ozone will develop during the late morning into the evening hours. An air quality alert has been issued for the metro St. Louis area from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday.
The ozone levels are expected to climb into the orange air quality category. This is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The EPA defines sensitive groups as people with lung disease, such as asthma, older adults, children and teenagers, and people who are active outdoors.
When ozone levels climb during the afternoon into the early evening hours, people sensitive to the higher ozone should do the following:
- Make outdoor activities shorter and less intense.
- Take more breaks.
- Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
- Plan outdoor activities in the morning when ozone is lower.
- People with asthma: Follow your asthma action plan and keep quick-relief medicine handy.
- Everyone else: Consider making outdoor activities shorter and less intense.
There breeze is expected to pick up a bit on Saturday, allowing pollution to disperse more efficiently.