Air Quality Alert Issued for 12 New Jersey Counties on Tuesday: Find Out Why

NEW JERSEY – Environmental officials issued an air quality warning for several New Jersey counties Tuesday because forecast ozone levels could make it difficult for some people to breathe normally outdoors.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has declared a “Code Orange” air quality alert day for ground-level ozone in the following counties: Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, Union, Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, Middlesex and Mercer. The alert will remain in effect until Tuesday night.

Subscribe to

Weather conditions and a large amount of polluted air could cause ozone levels to rise into the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category later in the day, officials said. The air quality index (AQI) is expected to reach over 100 in some cities in northern and central New Jersey on Tuesday, according to airnow.gov.

“Sensitive individuals, including the very young, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, should avoid strenuous activities in the afternoon and early evening hours,” DEP officials said.

According to the National Weather Service, humidity will “increase” throughout the day Tuesday, with highs of between 25 and 29 degrees Celsius expected in most parts of the state.

A low-pressure system will approach the region on Wednesday. According to authorities, it should bring “enough clouds and rain showers to bring ozone levels back into the good range.”