FORECAST SUMMARY: Monday, August 18, 2025 - Friday, August 22, 2025
Ozone: 8-hour ozone concentrations are expected to range mostly Good (Green AQI) with only a few Moderate (Yellow AQI) concentrations possible south.
PM-2.5: 24-hour daily average Fine Particulate concentrations will average upper Good to middle Moderate.
FORECAST DISCUSSION:
Two weather systems bring showers and storms into the forecast this week. The first one moves west to east through the region Monday into Tuesday, with the second one moving in Friday into early Saturday. Conditions dry out in the wake of each system as high pressure builds in; less humidity and more comfortable temperatures can be expected as well. High temperatures during the workweek will range from around 70 in the north to around 80 in the south. By the weekend, high temperatures fall to the 60s in the north and 70s in the south.
We expect ozone concentrations this week to range mostly Good thanks to the cooler surface and upper-level temperatures, along with clouds associated with the systems moving through. Northwesterly winds this summer have brought down smoke from Canadian wildfires; however, fire intensities and fire hotspots have improved over the last week or two. These improvements have helped decrease smoke production and therefore have reduced the threat of smoke moving into our region. Based on current smoke and forecast models, we do not anticipate PM2.5 to reach higher than the middle Moderate range. We will continue to evaluate updated smoke and forecast models as the week progresses, and this forecast will be updated if we expect PM2.5 concentrations to reach higher than what is currently forecast.
EXTENDED FORECAST:
Cool Canadian air sinks into the region behind the Friday/Saturday front. At this time, smoke moving in behind the boundary is not a concern; however, we will be tracking smoke models as the week progresses. Air quality late in the forecast period should be no higher than Moderate.
Next Forecast update: Friday, August 22, 2025