INDIANAPOLIS—A sure sign that summer weather is upon us.
With temperatures at or near 90 each day into next week, Central Indiana is experiencing its first heat wave of the year.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management says Friday will be an Air Quality Action Day in 13 Central Indiana Counties: Marion, Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Delaware, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Monroe, Morgan and Shelby.
IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone by making simple changes to their daily habits.
Here are some examples:
- Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation
- Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip
- Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
- Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds
- Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above.
An Air Quality Action Day means ozone levels are high.
Children, the elderly and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.
IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. To learn more about ozone or sign up for air quality forecasts, visit www.SmogWatch.IN.gov [links.govdelivery.com].
