Highlights
- ADEQ issued an Ozone High Pollution Advisory for the Phoenix Metro Area, including Maricopa County, through Friday.
- Forecast ozone concentrations are expected to reach levels that pose health risks, particularly for children, older adults, and people with respiratory conditions.
- Residents are urged to carpool, telecommute, or use mass transit, and to reduce gasoline-powered equipment use.
- The advisory expires at 9 p.m. Friday; details are available at azdeq.gov/forecast/phoenix or by calling 602-771-2300.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Ozone High Pollution Advisory for the Phoenix Metro Area, including Maricopa County, through 9 p.m. Friday, the National Weather Service said in an alert issued at 9:09 a.m. Thursday.
Forecast weather conditions combined with existing ozone levels are expected to produce local maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations that pose a health risk, according to the NWS alert. Adverse health effects increase as air quality deteriorates, the advisory states.
Ozone can cause breathing difficulties for children, older adults, and people with respiratory problems. A decrease in physical activity is recommended for those groups.
Residents are urged to carpool, telecommute, or use mass transit. The use of gasoline-powered equipment should be reduced or shifted to later in the day.
For current conditions and forecast details, visit azdeq.gov/forecast/phoenix or call ADEQ at 602-771-2300. The advisory expires at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21.
Sources
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- api.weather.gov retrieved 20/08/2026 16:15
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 20/08/2026 16:15. Every claim traces to a source.
