Highlights
- ADEQ issued an Ozone High Pollution Advisory covering the Phoenix metro area for Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 19-20.
- Forecast ozone concentrations are expected to reach levels that pose health risks, particularly for children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions.
- Residents are urged to carpool, telecommute, or use mass transit, and to avoid gasoline-powered equipment during peak hours.
- The advisory expires at 9 p.m. Thursday; details and forecasts 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 covering Wednesday, Aug. 19, and Thursday, Aug. 20, with the alert in effect through 9 p.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 National Weather Service alert issued at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday. 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 during the advisory period.
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 to limit emissions during peak ozone-forming hours.
For real-time forecasts and advisory details, ADEQ directs the public to azdeq.gov/forecast/phoenix or 602-771-2300. The advisory expires at 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- api.weather.gov retrieved 19/08/2026 16:50
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 19/08/2026 16:50. Every claim traces to a source.
