Summer's a' Coming

There have already been smog days in 2006--but tomorrow is supposed to be hot as well--a real summer day in modern southern Ontario. Belleville has too many times been the worst spot in the province for air quality--when the wind is from the south, as it usually is on a smog day, we share their air in Thomasburg. Prediction for tomorrow has the wind coming from the south in the morning, switching to the southwest later in the day. Rain forecast, but not enough to make a difference.

Courtesy of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment:

A SMOG ADVISORY* has been issued by the Ontario Ministry of the
Environment for the following forecast regions:

For: Sunday May 28, 2006

Barrie - Orillia - Midland
Belleville - Quinte - Northumberland
City of Hamilton
City of Toronto
Dufferin - Innisfil
Dunnville - Caledonia - Haldimand
Grey - Bruce
Haliburton
Halton - Peel
Huron - Perth
Kingston - Prince Edward
London - Middlesex
Niagara
Oxford - Brant
Parry Sound - Muskoka - Huntsville
Peterborough - Kawartha Lakes
Sarnia - Lambton
Simcoe - Delhi - Norfolk
Waterloo - Wellington
York - Durham

The SMOG ADVISORY (issued on a previous date) for the
following forecast region(s) is still in effect:

Elgin: From May 27, 2006
Windsor - Essex - Chatham - Kent: From May 27, 2006

Advisories will remain in effect until further notice.

For more details visit the Air Quality Ontario website at:
www.airqualityontario.com

During the smog episode, individuals may experience eye
irritation. Heavy outdoor exercise may cause respiratory
symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. People
with heart or lung disease including asthma may experience
a worsening of their condition.

* A Smog Advisory means that there is a strong likelihood
that there may be poor air quality within the next 24 hours
due to ground-level ozone and/or particulate matter.

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Spare the Air Actions
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During a smog advisory, there are a number of actions that you can
take to help spare the air.

Travel tips - all year round:
- leave your car at home - walk, cycle, carpool or take public transit
- tele-conference instead of driving to meetings
- limit car trips by doing all your errands at once, and do
not let your engine idle
- keep your car well tuned, check your tire pressure and
drive at moderate speeds

Health tips:
- avoid exposure to vehicle exhaust fumes
- consult your doctor for specific health advice
- wear light clothing at work while air conditioning is reduced
- avoid strenuous exercise in the heat of the day

Electricity saving tips:
- save electricity at home by setting your air conditioner
temperature a few degrees higher (health permitting) and turning
off lights you are not using

Other pollution reduction tips:
- leave lawn mowing for another day
- restrict the use of gasoline-powered equipment
- delay using oil-based paints, solvents and cleaners