HARTFORD - Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is forecasting unhealthy air quality for "sensitive groups" beginning Rare Occurrence?ground level ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), two air pollutants that pose serious health risks - especially to young children, the elderly, adults who are active outdoors, and people with respiratory disease.Weather ContributingWait 'til 8" to use energy intensive appliances like washing machines, dryers and dishwashers;

^{Sunday, June 19, Tuesday, June 21.}

and possibly lasting into

DEEP air quality analysts said weather patterns over the next few days will first create elevated ground-level ozone pollution in Northern Fairfield, Northern New Haven, Northern Middlesex and Hartford Counties. And by Monday these conditions could impact the air quality of the entire state.

"We are expecting air quality that will impact our most vulnerable residents, including children, the elderly and those with respiratory disease such as asthma," said Commissioner Robert Klee. "Since it is Father's Day weekend and we're issuing an Air Quality Alert, we urge all 'Dads' to take the weekend off from cutting the lawn - to minimize any health impacts on themselves and to avoid contributing additional emissions into the air from their lawn mower."

Multi-day air quality alerts have been rare in recent years. With increased understanding of the dangers of ozone in the air increases, however, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a more protective ozone standard for air quality in October, 2015.

This new standard is expected to lead to an increase in the number of forecasted unhealthy air quality days in Connecticut this summer - even though the state's air quality has steadily improved through the years.

EPA's new national air quality standard for ground level ozone is 70 parts per billion - the previous standard was 75 parts per billion.

Ground level or "bad" ozone primarily occurs during warm summer days. Strong sunshine causes chemical reactions of air pollutants emitted from motor vehicles, power plants and industry and household activities, forming ozone.

Warmer weather can bring high levels of

Unhealthy concentrations of ground level ozone can cause or make worse a variety of respiratory and other health problems including breathing difficulty, coughing, and throat irritation and worsen asthma episodes.

Anyone can be affected by ozone; particularly sensitive groups that include children, elderly, people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, and even healthy adults who are very active outdoors.

 and 8 pm so DEEP recommends residents who may be affected to get activity or exercise in before or after these times to minimize health effects.

Peak ozone levels occur between noon

Saturday and Sunday, move south and merge with high pressure along the southeast coast on Monday followed by a cold front lateTuesday and Tuesday night.

A Canadian high pressure ridge will slowly drift over New England

Sunday with southwesterly winds and full sunshine. This will transport elevated levels of ozone from upwind air pollution sources into parts of Connecticut on Sunday and all of Connecticut Monday and possiblyTuesday.

Temperatures are expected to rise well into the 80's

Monday and possibly Tuesday, with daytime highs reaching well in the 80s to around 90. This will cause elevated levels of ground level ozone to persist.

High pressure will continue to transport hotter temperatures during

Tuesday or Tuesday night, followed by another Canadian high pressure center that is expected to usher in cooler and cleaner air for the rest of the week.

An expected cold front will deliver a few showers and thunderstorms late

When air pollution levels are predicted to be "unhealthy for sensitive groups" DEEP recommends:

• Conserving electricity by setting air conditioners to 78

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  noon;

• Refueling your lawn mower and cutting the grass before

• Driving less by carpooling, vanpooling or using public transit;
• Telecommuting if possible; and
• Refueling your vehicle after dusk and never idling a vehicle unnecessarily.