U.S. Air Quality

Moderate to Unhealth Air Quality in the Mid-Atlantic

Haze levels increased today over the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, particularly in North Carolina and Virginia (left image, UW MODIS Aqua RGB and EPA Airnow AQI at 5PM EST). Well, things are heating up in Virginia......in Richmond the AQI reached code red conditions (unhealthy air quality) with an AQI of 187 at 5PM EST. The PM2.5 AQI in Richmond was code red between about 7 and 10 PM EST, and the ozone AQI was code red between about 4 and 8 PM EST. The hazy conditions in the Mid-Atlantic are being fueled by increased humidity levels. The right image shows the NPS Webcam photo at 5PM EST from Purchase Knob, North Carolina. The camera is situated in the easternmost edge of beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and faces north-northeast where haziness can be seen over the mountains. It is also still very hazy over the north Atlantic due to the North Carolina fires. See posts from the last couple of days. Worsened air quality and high temperatures have been forecasted over the weekend for the Mid-Atlantic, so stay tunned......