Daily ozone over the weekend was in the Good AQI range. The next few days are forecasted to have daily ozone values in the Good AQI category, although they are expected to increase through Tuesday with more sun. Wednesday is when more cloud cover arrives as more moisture enters while a trough builds to our west. This cloud cover will not allow ozone to build as easily compared to the start of this week, and slight decreases are expected. Friday is when rainfall arrives, and this is expected to drop the daily AQI farther down the Good AQI range.

Weekend daily PM10 levels were well into the Good AQI range. PM10 levels will have increases due to local activity in the mornings and evenings. These will continue to increase the daily PM10 values through the Good AQI category. Friday is when rain chances return to West Pinal, and this is when hourly PM10 values could rise as stronger gusts come as rain arrives. Daily PM10 is forecasted to remain in the Good AQI category, but this will be analyzed this week in case more impacts to PM10 are expected.

PM2.5 was in the Good AQI range over the weekend, and this is expected the next several days. This variability will come from morning increases along with cooler nights that lead to more wood burning. There could be hourly increases in the afternoon on Friday when rainfall arrives and brings wind gusts.

- A. Hermansen
ADEQ Meteorologist