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All you need to know about air quality
Air Quality Forecast
Air Quality Hot Line: Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area 202-962-3299

Air Quality
Weather Conditions
Recommended Actions

Unhealthful

• Hot (Mid 90's to 100's), hazy and humid
• Stagnant air, little or no wind
• Little chance of rain
• Stationary high pressure system with sunny skies

• Children and elderly individuals should reduce outdoor activities
• Healthy individuals should limit strenuous outdoor work or exercise

When  air quality is forecast to reach unhealthful levels, residents are strongly urged to:

• Limit driving and, when possible, combined errands
• Use area bus and rail lines, or share a ride to work
• Avoid mowing lawn with gasoline-powered mowers
• Refuel cars after dusk

Approaching Unhealthful

• Temperature is in the upper 80's to low 90's
• Light winds
• Slow-moving high pressure system with sunny skies

• Refuel cars after dusk to limit daytime pollution
• Avoid mowing lawns with gasoline-powered mowers
• Share a ride or drive only their newest, best maintained vehicle.

Moderate

• Mid summer temperatures (upper 70's to mid 80's)
• Light to moderate winds (15 knots or less)
• High pressure system with partly or sunny skies

• Consolidate trips and errands
• Limit idling when possible
• Conserve electricity and set air conditioners to 78°F

Good

• Cool summer temperatures (mid 70's to low 80's)
• Windy conditions (15-20 knots or higher)
• Heavy or steady rain
• Passing cold front carries pollution out of area

• Carpool, use transit, bike or walk when possible
• Keep cars and boats tunned-up
• Use environmentally paints and cleaning products