Extreme heat, poor air quality this weekend

The National Weather Service has issued an “extreme heat” warning and a “poor air quality” alert for Maricopa on Friday.

With temperatures expected to exceed 105 degrees throughout the weekend, the extreme heat warning comes as no surprise. The poor air quality is due to a rise in ozone levels in the air. With the extreme heat and lack of wind, the ozone molecules, as well as dust and other pollutants, are unable to disperse through the air and are getting trapped in the atmospheric levels we breathe.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in Phoenix issued an ozone high pollution advisory for the Greater Phoenix area (including Pinal County) for Friday.

According to the NWS, “this means that forecast weather conditions combined with existing ozone levels are expected to result in local maximum ozone concentrations that pose a health risk. Adverse health effects increase as air quality deteriorates.”

Ozone is an air contaminant. High levels of ozone can cause breathing issues for children and adults with respiratory conditions. The NWS recommends a decrease in physical activities while the air quality alert is in effect.

“After several weeks of cool and below normal temperatures, triple digit will return to the lower deserts today and linger through the weekend,” the National Weather Service said in a statement. “Afternoon highs above 100 degrees will be common with many locations peaking between 105 and 108 degrees. [This will] yield the hottest weather of the year so far.”