Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is forecasting unhealthy air quality for "sensitive groups" through Saturday, May 28, due to predicted elevated ground-level ozone pollution for Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties. These areas are expected to experience unhealthy air quality for "sensitive groups."Health EffectsWhat Can You Do?Ozone Monitoringhere.

"As Connecticut prepares for Memorial Day weekend and temperatures begin to warm up this week, we are expecting air quality that could impact our most susceptible residents, including children, the elderly and those with respiratory disease such as asthma," said Commissioner Rob Klee.

The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer and it's a great time to kick back, relax and spend time with family and friends at the beach or any of Connecticut's 109 State Parks.

"If you do venture out to one of our beautiful state parks or forests this weekend," said Cmmsr Klee, "I hope everyone will do their part to help improve air quality by car-pooling and arriving early."

Multi-day air quality alerts have been rare in recent years. However, in October 2015 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowered the national air quality standard for ground level ozone from 75 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion.

As science evolves our understanding of ozone increases, which resulted in US EPA setting a more protective ozone standard that may lead to an increase in the number of forecasted unhealthy air quality days in Connecticut this summer even though our air quality has steadily improved through the years.

Ground level or "bad" ozone primarily occurs during warm summer days. Strong sunshine causes chemical reactions of air pollutants emitted from motor vehicles, power plants and industry and household activities, forming ozone.

Warmer weather can bring high levels of ground level ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). These two air pollutants pose serious health risks, especially to young children, the elderly, adults who are active outdoors, and people with respiratory disease.

Unhealthy concentrations of ground level ozone can cause or make worse a variety of respiratory and other health problems including breathing difficulty, coughing, and throat irritation and worsen asthma episodes. Anyone can be affected by ozone.

Peak ozone levels occur between noon and 8 pm so make sure to get any activity or exercise in before or after these times to minimize health effects.

Low pressure, located off the New England coast earlier this week, was expected to move out to sea on Wednesday as a high pressure ridge builds to the west. Temperatures are expected to rise into the upper 80s on Thursday, according to the National Weather Services, with "light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon."

Along the coast, winds will turn southwest, which will transport elevated levels of ozone from upwind air pollution sources into coastal Connecticut. If a weak back-door cold front stalls just north of the area on Friday and Saturday, elevated levels of ground level ozone will persist through Saturday, when a maritime high pressure center is expected to usher in cooler and cleaner ocean air, according to DEEP.

When air pollution levels are predicted to be "unhealthy for sensitive groups," DEEP recommends:

*Conserving electricity by setting air conditioners to 78 degrees;

*"Wait 'til 8" to use energy intensive appliances like washing machines, dryers and dishwashers;

*Cutting grass, if necessary, before noon;

*Driving less by carpooling, vanpooling or using public transit;

*Telecommuting if possible; and

*Refueling vehicles after dusk and never idling a vehicle unnecessarily.

DEEP also recommends residents also consider these long term energy reducing strategies:

*Make homes and businesses as energy efficient as possible, which down air pollution and saves money;

*Cars and trucks cause over half our air pollution, so consider driving an electric vehicle; and

*Consider investing in renewable energy like solar electric.

In addition, DEEP reminds everyone that knowledge is power. Check with local schools to see if they participate in the School Flag Program, EPA's Air Quality awareness tool that uses colored flags based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) to notify teachers, students, administrators, and the local community of air quality conditions.

DEEP monitors, tracks and forecasts daily air quality levels across Connecticut for ozone from May 1 through September 30 each year and for fine particulate matter. On April 30, 2016, DEEP began informing Connecticut's regulated community and the general public of the ozone season via the State of Connecticut e-mail list serve and posting air quality forecasts on the DEEP web page, available

DEEP encourages daycare providers, summer camps and elder/senior centers to subscribe to the AQI. Subscribing to the AQI is fast and easy and will provide important information each day about Connecticut's air quality through the spring and summer.

The AQI link provides facts and information regarding ground-level ozone, its health effects, what to do on high ozone days, and most importantly what can be done to help reduce ground level ozone in one's backyard.