Cleveland, Ohio – Ground-level ozone is set to spike across Northeast Ohio, triggering an Air Quality Advisory from midnight tonight through midnight Wednesday, July 23. Unhealthy air is expected for sensitive groups—including children, older adults, and anyone with respiratory issues—in counties from Lorain and Cuyahoga to Summit, Portage, and Ashtabula.
According to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), rising ozone levels, driven by stagnant weather and regional pollution, will push air quality into the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category throughout Cleveland, Akron, Mentor, Medina, and surrounding cities. Residents are urged to monitor real-time air readings at airnow.gov and sign up for text alerts at enviroflash.info.
Key impacts are likely near busy highways and city centers. Local agencies recommend limiting outdoor exertion—especially for kids, seniors, and those with asthma or lung disease. Commuters are asked to combine trips, use transit, or work from home. Additional tips: avoid engine idling, refuel cars after sunset, and hold off on mowing lawns until air improves.
Cleveland Division of Air Quality, Ohio EPA, and local partners note that this ozone surge mirrors past mid-summer advisories and could worsen if weather remains dry and calm.
Air quality advisories will remain active through Wednesday night, with updates expected if conditions change. Stay alert for new warnings and take steps to keep air cleaner in your community.
