Another Air Alert; Humid with Chance of Storms: Mass. Weather

Another air quality alert is in effect today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for much of the state, the second straight day with officials warning against unhealthy ground level ozone concentrations.

Meanwhile, nearly all of Massachusetts will be trapped under some pretty intense humidity, particularly north of Boston. Thunderstorms are expected west of Boston in the mid-afternoon.

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For some, it might be a welcome relief. Temperatures Wednesday reached their highest point of the summer in much of the state.

The air quality alert stretches from Boston up north past the New Hampshire border and out west as far as Chicopee. The Department of Environmental Protection says air quality can affect the lung function and respritory system of those sensitive to it.

Here's the day's outlook from the Department of Environmental Services:

Weak low pressure will be approaching the region today providing increasingly cloudy skies and humid conditions. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop during the day and winds will be light out of the south but sea breezes will likely develop along the coast. AIR QUALITY: Fine particle levels will average in the moderate range statewide today. Ozone levels will likely elevate across the State averaging from the high moderate range in northwestern sections and on Cape Cod into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) range in some central and eastern areas. OPEN BURNING ADVISORY: Open burning is currently prohibited in Massachusetts.

Photo submitted by Jayne Hammel