AUSTIN, Texas — If you've felt the air has been a bit thick the past few days, you may be onto something.
For the past week or so, as temperatures have been getting warmer and warmer, our air quality has also begun to decrease at times, falling from "good" to "moderate" or "unhealthy for some."
Tuesday's AQI (Air Quality Index) for the Austin metro was moderate, but AirNow.gov also reported more dense concentrations of pollutants in the "unhealthy" level.
For Wednesday, we are expecting another unhealthy air quality day. This has a lot to do with the current forecast. With hot temperatures and calm winds, the air is quite stagnant, producing more ozone along with other pollutants. We're also monitoring smoke from seasonal burning in Mexico along with gas flaring activities in Gulf of Mexico.
The Environmental Protection Agency's website states, "When pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight."
The latest air quality forecast predicts levels to remain at "unhealthy for some" for Thursday and Friday as well.
Not only is pollution and ozone a problem, but our allergy count across Central Texas is also in the high category for grass, mulberry and mold.
