Air Quality Alert issued in central Ohio on Father's Day

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Central Ohioans looking to celebrate Father's Day on Sunday will have to keep an eye on how much time they spend outside.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission issued an Air Quality Alert for multiple central Ohio counties from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday affecting Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Greene, and Licking counties. The MORPC is projecting pollution levels above 100 on Sunday, which is categorized as being unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Storm Team 4's Sunday forecast lists a clear day with a high of 95 with very small wind gusts up to five miles per hour. All of central Ohio will go under an excessive heat watch starting Monday as temperatures are expected to reach the mid-to-high 90s all week.

View the latest Air Quality Index for Columbus, provided by AirNow and the Environmental Protection Agency, below:

Ways to stay safe

The MORPC recommends multiple safety precautions to take to avoid excessive exposure during the upcoming temperature spike. Ohioans should plan outdoor activities for the morning when pollution levels are lower, and shorten time outside as well.

They also recommend practices to reduce pollution levels. Among those include:

• Carpool, if possible, bike, walk or take the bus instead of driving alone.
• Refuel your vehicle after 8 pm.
• Do not idle your vehicle, exhaust contributes to air pollution.
• Mow your lawn in the evening hours and avoid the use of gas-powered lawn equipment.