Tuesday to be 2nd straight ozone action day in southeast Michigan

Reduce automobile use, time outside

DETROIT – SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, announced that Tuesday will be just the second ozone action day for metro Detroit this summer. There were three ozone action days in 2013 and 20 in 2012.    

Forecast: Get set to sweat on Tuesday

Summer-like conditions are returning to southeast Michigan for the next few days, which brings plenty of sunshine, warm temperatures and increased humidity to the area. Weak winds will come from the south/southwest Sunday into Monday. The moisture moving in allows humidity levels to rise.

With mostly sunny skies, ozone levels will rise. Those favorable conditions will continue into Monday. Temperatures at both the surface and upper levels continue to increase, making an upsurge in ozone likely in southeast Michigan.

ozone 1

Ozone Action Day Advice

Here are some simple things that residents can do to help keep the air clean on the region's first ozone action day of the season:

- Avoid refueling on ozone action days. If possible, refuel at night. If you need to refuel on an ozone action day, fill up in the evening when the weather is cooler and don't "top off" the tank. Newer vehicles with capless gas tanks are less likely to release gas fumes into the air.

- Reduce automobile use on ozone action days. Plan to carpool, use public transit, walk, or work at home. Delay or combine errands.

- Save the outdoor chores for another day. Choose the lawn chair over the lawn mower.

And if you have pets, here's some good advice for keeping them safe and cool.

Ozone pets

For more information on ozone action days visit SEMCOG's website.