FORECAST SUMMARY: Monday, May 22nd, 2023, through Friday, May 26th, 2023

OZONE:  8-hour average ozone concentrations are expected to be mostly Good with the possibility for scattered Low Moderate during the first couple of days of the forecast period.

PM-2.5:  24-hour average Fine Particulate concentrations are also expected to be mostly Good to Moderate through the forecast period.

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

For those outside yesterday (Sunday), you may have notice that the sun appeared to be on a dimmer switch.  It was a bit surreal to have no clouds but gray skies and only weak shadows showing.  This was a result of wildfires in Canada sending elevated smoke down through the Midwest.  Fortunately, the layer of smoke is staying elevated and not filtering down to the ground in any significant amounts.  As of Monday morning, that layer of smoke is directly still over Michigan.  The models are predicting a lessening of the smoke layer as the week progresses, but we may have some of the smoke that will linger for a while.

In terms of our Air Quality, I am anticipating that the overhead smoke will not have much direct impact on our ground level Air Quality.  The models are predicting mostly clear skies all week and through the holiday weekend and Tuesday will likely be the warmest day of the week.  But the overhead smoke should dim the solar radiation enough to discourage significant ozone formation. 

A dry cold front will sweep through the region early Wednesday morning to clear out any surface level air contaminants.  Cooler, dryer air, along with high pressure will build in behind the front and keep our Air Quality mostly Good for the remainder of the work week.

The holiday weekend also looks mostly clear with warming by Sunday.  As a result, I will be updating this forecast on Friday but not anticipating any problems, at this time.

EXTENDED FORECAST:

Air Quality should be mostly Good begin the next work week.

Next Forecast Update: Friday, May 26th, 2023