Press Releases
07/01/2026
DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone For Wednesday, July 1, 2026 through Saturday July 4, 2026
Levels May Be Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups During This Time
(HARTFORD)— The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) forecasts that air quality for Fairfield, New Haven, northern Middlesex, northern New London, Hartford, Tolland, and Windham counties will reach or exceed levels that are high Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) on Wednesday, July 1st. In addition, Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties will reach or exceed levels that are high Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) from Thursday, July 2nd to Saturday, July 4th due to ozone levels in the outdoor air we breathe.
What You Should Do
If you are in a sensitive group, which includes young children, the elderly or anyone who has pre-existing health concerns such as asthma, heart or lung problems, then you should:
- Make outdoor activities shorter and less intense and take more breaks.
- Watch for symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath and follow your health care provider’s action plan.
For everyone else:
- Limit time outdoors, especially in the afternoon and evening
- Move workouts and activities indoors or reschedule
- Take frequent breaks if you must be outside
If You Feel Symptoms
Stop activity and go indoors right away if you experience:
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Eye or throat irritation
Seek medical care if symptoms are severe or do not improve.
Reduce Your Exposure
- Keep windows and doors closed
- Run air conditioning on recirculate
- Use a HEPA air purifier if available
- Avoid adding indoor pollution (e.g., burning candles, smoking, vacuuming without HEPA filters)
Ozone is formed when air pollution from fossil fuel combusted by both local and upwind sources, including vehicles, power plants and other industrial sources, combines in the presence of summer-like temperatures.
“As we all look forward to celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday this week, dangerously high temperatures will lead to elevated ozone levels starting today for most of the state and will last through Saturday along the Connecticut coastline,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “With the dangerous heat and unhealthy air quality, we urge Connecticut residents to use caution over the next several days as you plan your outdoor activities.”
"Extreme heat is dangerous on its own, but when air quality declines at the same time, the health risks multiply," said Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, M.D. "DPH is coordinating closely with DEEP to monitor air quality across the state. For your safety, stay indoors during peak heat hours, stay hydrated, and if you notice any difficulty breathing, chest tightness, or worsening respiratory symptoms, seek medical attention right away."
Weather Summary and Air Quality Alert
On Wednesday, high pressure remains offshore with an East Coast trough developing from North Carolina to Maine in the evening. There will be mostly sunny skies with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening and overnight. It will be hot and humid with temperatures reaching the mid-90s and winds from the southwest. Skies may be hazy in the afternoon and evening due to upper-level smoke.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the trough remains over southern New England as the cold front continues to inch closer to Connecticut but remains to the north. Temperatures and humidity remain elevated into the weekend, reaching the upper 90s to low 100s on Thursday and the upper 90s on Friday and Saturday. Sunny skies persist on Thursday and Friday. However, skies will be partly cloudy with a chance of rain in the afternoon on Saturday. On Thursday, there will be west winds inland and southwest winds along the coast. On Friday, west winds inland will shift northwest, with west/southwest winds along the coast. On Saturday, there will be southwest winds along the coast.
Map of Air Quality Forecast for Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Map of Air Quality Forecast for Thursday, July 2 through Saturday July 4, 2026
What You Can Do to Help
While ozone levels in the northeast have improved significantly over the last 30 years, Connecticut continues to struggle to meet both the 2008 and the 2015 federal health-based standards for ozone, which are necessary to protect families and children from unhealthy air pollution.
Connecticut has made great strides implementing control strategies to reduce air pollution and establish several new programs and initiatives concerning electric vehicle use and reduction of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. To meet the federal health-based standard for ozone, which Connecticut exceeded on 22 days last year, DEEP continues to pursue tools and strategies to further reduce air pollution in Connecticut from sources like cars and trucks while working with EPA to ensure that air transported into Connecticut meets the ozone standard as well.
Additionally, there are steps that we can all take to reduce our contribution to local air pollution. DEEP recommends simple, common-sense steps to reduce air pollution that may even help save you some money at the same time!
- Drive Less – consider carpooling, vanpooling, using public transit or tele-working;
- Drive Clean – consider purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle. Learn more by visiting: www.driveelectricus.comand CHEAPR - Home (ct.gov);
- Green your lawn – consider using battery-powered mowers, string trimmers, leaf blowers and other battery powered garden equipment around your home;
- Reduce or Shift Energy Demand – purchase energy efficient products like ENERGY STAR® LED lights and ENERGY STAR® air conditioning, use programmable thermostats set to 78o or higher when no one is home, and use energy intensive appliances like washing machines, dryers and dishwashers later in the day;
- Be Aware of Your Air – Understand the Air Quality Index and sign up to receive alerts so you will know when air quality is predicted to be unhealthy; and
- Small changes add up – When you know there will be an unhealthy air day, make small changes to your routine:
- Refuel your vehicle after dusk and stop refueling when the nozzle clicks off,
- Avoid idling your vehicle unnecessarily and keep tire pressures at their recommended level,
- Delay using gasoline powered mowers and yard equipment,
- Limit your outdoor activity in the heat of the day,
- Refrain from recreational wood burning;
- Twitter: @CTDEEPNews
- Facebook: DEEP on Facebook
Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.Communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110