Air quality alert issued for Kansas City metro as smog likely to reach unhealthy levels
Smog levels are expected to reach unhealthy levels again Friday in the Kansas City metro area, according to the Mid-America Regional Council.
This is the sixth time that the agency, commonly known as MARC, has issued an ozone alert this spring.
The poor air quality is forecast to fall under an orange ozone alert, which means unhealthy level of ground-level ozone, also known as ozone pollution or smog, is expected for people sensitive to pollution. The outdoor Air Quality Index is forecast to be 133 with ozone being the primary pollutant.
On ozone alert days, people and business are urged to avoid activities that lead to ozone formation, including refueling vehicles and mowing lawns. Active children and adults and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion, according to MARC.
People are also encouraged to car pool, bike or walk to work and to delay or combine errands.
This is the sixth time this ozone season, which began March 1 and runs through Oct. 31, that an ozone alert has been issued, the most in recent years.
That compares to two ozone alerts issued in 2022, four issued in 2021 and 10 issued in 2018. No ozone alerts were issued during the 2019 and 2020 ozone seasons.
Last year, the Kansas City area exceeded the EPA’s standard for ground-level ozone on six days. That compares to seven days in 2021, one in 2020, zero in 2019 and 12 in 2018.
