The ozone alert in the Evansville area has been extended and expanded. WNIN’s John Gibson has the update:
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has extended its Air Quality Alert through Wednesday in southwest and southeast regions of the state, and issued a new one for central and east central Indiana.
Officials say ozone is again expected to reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups, like children, the elderly, and anyone with heart or lung issues.
IDEM says the continuing unseasonably warm temperatures, low humidity, sunny skies, and wildfire smoke will continue to create ground-level ozone.
Meanwhile, much of Vanderburgh, Posey and Warrick counties remain in a moderate drought and the dry conditions have prompted burn bans in the Tri-State.
The National Weather Service says some needed rain -- in the form of showers and thunderstorms -- is in the forecast starting this weekend.