Smog season ahead: Wildfires, heat waves

Spring is bringing increasing temperatures and it won't be too long before smog and diminished air quality develop.

A recently issued American Lung Association report says great progress has been made in improving air quality over the past several decades. However, last year took a step back as 25 million more Americans breathed unhealthy air compared to 2023.

Driving the worsening air quality were smoke from wildfires and several heat waves. Smoke-producing wildfires aren't limited to the West Coast; drought can contribute to fires throughout the U.S., including a blaze currently burning in Ocean County, N.J.

Intense summer sunshine converts emissions from cars, factories and power plants into ozone and other dangerous pollutants. Heat waves trap these pollutants, causing them to rise to dangerous levels.

To minimize the effect of air pollution, check the air quality forecast directly in the app. More information can be found in the app explanation above.