Berkeley and Jefferson Counties to Begin Receiving Daily

Air Quality Forecasts for Ground-Level Ozone

Martinsburg, WV - This year marks the beginning of daily seasonal air quality forecasting and reporting in the Eastern Panhandle for ground-level ozone. The summer ozone season runs from May 1 through September 30.

Daily ground-level ozone forecasts for Berkeley and Jefferson Counties will be issued each afternoon during the summer ozone season in coordination with those for Frederick County and the City of Winchester in Virginia as issued by Virginia 's Department of Environmental Quality. Daily forecasts will be distributed to the media through local air quality outreach program Eastern Panhandle Clean Air Connection, and may also be found at www.cleanairconnection.org .

Air quality forecasts will be color-coded into four categories, with each color and category corresponding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index (AQI). A Code Orange forecast indicates ozone pollution may be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Code Orange forecasts will be accompanied by an “Air Quality Action Day” alert, which will include suggestions to help the public protect their health and improve air quality. Other forecast categories include Code Green and Code Yellow, which mean ground-level ozone concentrations are predicted to be good and moderate, respectively. A Code Red forecast indicates ground-level ozone concentrations are predicted to be unhealthy, but such a forecast is extremely rare for this region.

Ground-level ozone is created in the lower atmosphere when common air pollutants called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NoX) react in the presence of heat and sunlight. High concentrations of it near the ground's surface can be harmful to people, animals, and the environment. Ground-level ozone may originate from a variety of source emissions, including fumes from vehicles, boats, and lawn and garden equipment, as well as industrial facilities and many household products.

Eastern Panhandle Clean Air Connection is a public-private community partnership sponsored by the local governments of Berkeley and Jefferson Counties and the City of Martinsburg , and managed by the Region 9 Planning and Development Council. Their mission is to increase public awareness of air pollution through education and outreach, as well as encourage community participation in voluntary actions that will improve air quality in the Eastern Panhandle Region. 

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