The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services has declared Monday as a Code Orange Ground Level Ozone Action Day for the Upstate and Catawba region until 8 PM Monday evening.
A Code Orange Ground Level Ozone Action Day means that the levels of ground level ozone gas will be at high enough concentrations to impact sensitive groups. High ozone levels can make breathing difficult for children, older adults, and those with lung disease.
During the time of the alert, those sensitive to ozone are advised to limit strenuous outdoor activities if possible take more frequent breaks.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires moved into the Palmetto state this weekend. Most of the smoke particles and ozone associated with the fires are present at higher elevations in the atmosphere, but the added pollution from the fires also contributes to an increase in ground level ozone. Local weather conditions are also contributing to an increasing in ground level ozone. The stable layer of air near the surface and the light winds in the upstate Monday are preventing mixing and allowing ozone levels to build up.
Areas of smoke will likely remain visible through Wednesday. While most people will not experience breathing issues due to the excess smoke, the particles of smoke in the atmosphere will make the skies more hazy and contribute to more colorful sunrise and sunsets.