Friday, July 16, 1999
Hot, humid, smoggy air back for weekend
It's not just uncomfortable, it's unhealthful
BY PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Another bout of hot, sticky air is heading for Cincinnati, which is already suffering through moderate drought conditions.
The sweltering weather, with high humidity and temper atures expected in the 90s, will not only be uncomfortable for most, it may prove unhealthy. Hamilton County officials declared a smog alert Thursday for today through Sunday.
“Temperatures are going to be so high, and there will be very little to no cloud coverage,” said Sarah Bruegger, spokeswoman for the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services. “Unfortunately, the conditions are very favorable for ozone.”
Her agency expects air quality in the Tristate to fall to levels unhealthy for people with sensitive respiratory systems. This weekend's smog alert is the region's fourth of the summer season.
High pressure on the East Coast is the cause for the dry, hot and humid conditions, said Myron Padgett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio. The region has been suffering moderate drought conditions, he said, with annual rainfall more than 4 inches below normal.
The dry weather has not had much of a negative effect on area farmers yet, said Steve Bartels, an Ohio State University agricultural extension agent for Butler County. Area farm ers reported a decent wheat harvest the past few days.
“Just as the plants were starting to wilt, we got some rain,” Mr. Bartels said. But for other area crops and plants to thrive, it must continue to rain about an inch a week through summer, he said.
Mr. Bartels said gardeners should put an inch of water on a garden about once a week when temperatures are in the 90s. He suggested watering in the morning.
The dry conditions across Ohio were the topic of a Columbus gathering of state leaders Thursday, where it was noted water levels and crops throughout the state are beginning to suffer. The worst conditions are in central and southern Ohio.
Through mid-August, precipitation is expected to be normal to near-normal, but not enough to recover from shortfalls, according to meteorologists. And while most of Ohio's reservoirs are low, they are not at critical lev els, state leaders said.
Environmental officials say people can reduce smog by taking these precautions during smog alerts:
• Limit daytime driving by combining trips.
• Take advantage of public transportation and car pools.
• Put off mowing grass and refueling vehicles until after 6 p.m.
• Conserve electricity by raising thermostats and turning off unused tools and lights.
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