Statewide MA Air Quality Alert

A statewide air quality alert is in effect today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has issued an air quality action day, meaning ground level ozone concentrations may reach unhealthy standards, according to the National Weather Service.

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The affected counties are Barnstable, Dukes, Eastern Essex, Eastern Norfolk, Eastern Plymouth, Nantucket, Northern Bristol, Southeast Middlesex, Southern Bristol, Southern Plymouth, Suffolk, Western Essex, Western Norfolk, and Western Plymouth.

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

A sunny and hot airmass will settle into our region today. Winds will be light out of the west turning more southerly along coastal areas. AIR QUALITY: Fine particle levels will average in the moderate range statewide on Wednesday. Ozone levels will likely elevate significantly across the State averaging from the high moderate range well into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) range in southern and eastern sections of the State. OPEN BURNING ADVISORY: Open burning is currently prohibited in Massachusetts.

Photo courtesy of Joanne Lachance