Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued For Hartford/ Tolland County

HARTFORD/TOLLAND COUNTY, CT — The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook and an air quality alert for Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties on Tuesday.

An air quality alert has been issued for all of northern Connecticut from midnight to midnight Tuesday. "An Air Quality Action Day means that Fine Particulates within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards," the National Weather Service said.

"An increased risk for fine particulates from smoke caused by increased wildfire activity in eastern Canada has prompted @CTDEEPNews @RhodeIslandDEM & @MassDEP to issue Air Quality Alerts for Tuesday for all of CT, RI & MA," the weather service added.

Also on Tuesday, there is a chance for thunderstorms and rain showers in the afternoon. "Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds," the weather service said.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is expecting smoke from wildfires over Quebec to elevate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels beginning after 9 p.m. on Monday, June 5.

“These levels are expected to exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for an extended period during the overnight period in Western Connecticut and covering the entire State by daybreak,” officials wrote in a news release.

Health Effects of PM 2.5 Air Pollution

When air quality is forecasted to be USG, there is an “increased likelihood that individuals in sensitive groups will develop respiratory symptoms, that aggravation of heart or lung disease could occur, and persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly could experience premature mortality,” according to the news release.

“Children and people with asthma or other lung disease are most at risk for experiencing these symptoms,” the news release states. “Active children and adults, and people with impaired lung function or cardiovascular disease, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. If you can smell smoke in the air, then levels are probably high enough to affect sensitive individuals.”

Here are the extended forecast details for northern Connecticut via the weather service:

Tonight: Patchy smoke after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Patchy smoke. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind 5 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: A chance of showers, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: A chance of showers, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: Showers likely, mainly after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.