idem-issues-statewide-air-quality-action-day-for-thursday
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecast an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for Thursday for all of Indiana.
Air quality is expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) level.
IDEM is forecasting high ozone levels due to a significant increase in temperatures across the state and a continued air mass from Canadian wildfires in the following regions:
Central/East Central Indiana, including the cities of: Bloomington, Brookville, Columbus, Frankfort, Indianapolis, Greensburg, Kokomo, Lebanon, Martinsville, Muncie, Richmond, Shelbyville and all other cities within the area. North Central Indiana, including the cities of: Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, Rochester, South Bend, Warsaw, Winamac and all other cities within the area. Northeast Indiana, including the cities of: Angola, Auburn, Decatur, Fort Wayne, Hartford, Huntington City, LaGrange, Marion, Portland, Wabash and all other cities within the area. Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities within the area. Southeast Indiana, including the cities of: Brownstown, Corydon, Jeffersonville, Madison, New Albany, Salem, Versailles and all other cities within the area. Southwest Indiana, including the cities of: Bedford, Bloomfield, Evansville, Huntingburg, Mount Vernon, Paoli, Princeton, Rockport, Tell City, Vincennes and all other cities within the area. Western/West Central Indiana, including the cities of: Crawfordsville, Covington, Delphi, Fowler, Greencastle, Lafayette, Newport, Monticello, Spencer, Sullivan, Terre Haute and all other cities within the area.A state map including regions and affected counties is available at SmogWatch.IN.gov.
Some municipalities have additional open burning restrictions on AQADs. For more information, see idem.IN.gov/openburning/laws-and-rules.
Air Quality Action Days are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. (24 hours) on the specified date.
IDEM encourages everyone to help improve air quality by making changes to daily habits on Air Quality Action Days. You can:
Carpool or use public transportation. Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip. Turn off engines instead of idling for long periods of time. Avoid using gas-powered equipment. Conserve energy by turning off lights and setting the air conditioner to a higher setting; Use propane gas instead of charcoal when grilling outdoors; Reminder: Indiana’s open burning laws make it illegal to burn trash and generally prohibit open burning, visit IN.gov/openburning for more information.About Ozone:
Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather combine with vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties for sensitive populations.
Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly, and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.
IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. Air Quality Action Days generally occur when weather conditions such as light winds, hot and dry air, stagnant conditions, or lower atmospheric inversions trap pollutants close to the ground.
To learn more about PM2.5 and ozone, or to sign up for air quality alerts, visit SmogWatch.IN.gov.
Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email. Go to shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page
Former Roachdale Town Marshal sentenced to probation
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance announces 2027 summer internship program
Gov. Braun extends tax filing deadline for Hoosiers impacted by August storms
Read your FEMA letter carefully
Road closure to impact U.S. 36 in Parke and Putnam counties
South Vermillion to honor fallen mom all season
BMV branches closed for Labor Day weekend
New traffic pattern to impact State Road 63 near Newport
Riddell National Bank makes new scoreboard reality for Parke Heritage
Riverton Parke to remember fallen player
Rockville man arrested after setting fires
Governor Braun delivers another month of gas savings for Hoosier families
$120M granted to Indiana to improve healthcare access
Find a cooling center near you with Indiana 211
2026 Indiana State Fair celebrates Hoosier spirit, summer fun and memories made
State health officials and emergency healthcare providers agree to discontinue routine hospital diversion
Heat Advisory in effect through Thursday evening
USDA offers disaster assistance to Ag producers in Indiana impacted by recent flooding
First Indiana human case of West Nile found in Allen County
Legendary 'Indiana Rangers' receive Presidential Unit Citation, Sagamore of the Wabash for Vietnam War heroism
