AIR QUALITY FORECAST ADVISORY—CODE ORANGE FOR OZONE
SHELBY COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 6, 2026
CONTACT: (901) 222-9010
AIR QUALITY FORECAST ADVISORY—CODE ORANGE FOR OZONE
For Friday, August 7, 2026
MEMPHIS, TN – In cooperation with the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment; the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH); and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) has issued a “Code Orange Air Quality Forecast Advisory” for Friday, August 7, 2026, for the Memphis Metropolitan Area. The Memphis Metropolitan Area includes Shelby County, Tennessee; Crittenden County, Arkansas; and DeSoto County, Mississippi. A “Code Orange Air Quality Forecast Advisory” indicates ozone levels are forecast to exceed the eight-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Health Precautions: |
OZONE REDUCTION TIPS |
· For Active Children and Adults |
RECOMMENDED DURING |
· For Persons With Respiratory Difficulties |
“CODE ORANGE OZONE ADVISORIES” |
· Limit prolonged outdoor activities during |
· Refuel cars and lawnmowers after 7:00 pm, |
afternoon hours |
avoid spills and do not “top off” tanks |
· High ozone levels can cause nose, eye, |
· Carpool or mass transit |
throat, and lung irritation |
· Combine errands instead of many separate trips |
· High ozone levels can aggravate existing |
· Drive less, especially during peak hours or hot |
conditions and lead to increased potential |
days |
for illness in this sensitive group |
|
Under existing Air Quality Index guidelines, ozone levels are expected to reach the classification of “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”. The forecast exceedance for tomorrow is expected as a result of hot temperatures, dry conditions, light winds, abundant sunshine, local emissions, and carryover of emissions from previous days. PM 2.5 levels are expected to only be in the lower Yellow-Moderate AQI range. Ozone concentrations should start to improve on Saturday as moisture and rain return.
|
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) (Advisory) |
101 – 150 |
Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. |
|
|
|
For more information concerning air quality, contact one of the following:
SCHD Pollution Control at (901) 222-9599 or www.shelbytnhealth.com;
Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment-Planning-Office of Air Quality-Air Division at
(501) 682-0070 or www.adeq.state.ar.us/air/default.html; The Arkansas Department of Health at
(501) 661-2000 or www.healthyarkansas.com/environment/environment.html;
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality-Air Standards and Planning-Air Quality at
(601) 961-5577 or https://www.mdeq.ms.gov/air/ambient-air-quality/.
-END-
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health of ALL in Shelby County.
814 Jefferson Avenue Memphis, TN 38105 901 222-9000 www.shelbytnhealth.com
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