For the first time in 20 years, the air in central Ohio is considered unhealthy.
An Air Quality Alert from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission said Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin and Licking counties have a score of 164 on the Air Quality Index.
Today is an Air Quality Alert day in Central Ohio.
— MORPC (@MORPC) June 28, 2023
To decrease the potential for health issues, everyone is urged to limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity.
Visit https://t.co/9aMZfJWNle to sign up for free alerts by email or text. #BeAirAware #AirQuality pic.twitter.com/XelvPNg9CJ
The poor air quality is once again linked to wildfire smoke from Canada.
The federal government's air quality monitoring website AirNow lists the air in Columbus as unhealthy, giving it a score of 170 when it comes to the fine particles known as PM 2.5.
The rating means older people, children and teens, and people with certain heart or lung disease should limit time outdoors. It also said everyone should choose less strenuous activities, like walking instead of jogging, when spending time outside.
The air is currently much worse in the Cleveland area, which has a score of 272 PM 2.5. Canton, Cincinnati, Dayton and Lima also had lower-quality air than Columbus as of Wednesday morning.
The air here is central Ohio is expected to improve through the day Wednesday and Thursday.
