Code orange air quality alert in effect for most of south-central Pennsylvania
COUNTY, AND VISIBILITY DOWN TO A HALF MILE IN SOME OTHER AREAS. IN ADDITION, AIR QUALITY ALERT AGAIN TODAY, SAME STORY. THAT DENSE, COLD AIR, THAT SNOW PACK MELTING AT THE SURFACE, WARMER AIR RIDING UP AND ABOVE IT. IF WE HAD WINDY CONDITIONS TODAY, IT WOULD BE PRETTY MILD DAY. THERE IS WARMER AIR ALOFT AND THAT’S WHAT LOCKS THIS COLD AIR IN PLACE AT THE SURFACE AND LOCKS THOSE POLLUTANTS IN PLACE AS WELL. SO TODAY, OUR NEWS EIGHT STORM TEAM FORECAST CALLS FOR DENSE MORNING FOG. RAIN DEVELOPING LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH, AND IT WILL BE COOL AND CALM TODAY. I DON’T THINK WE GET OUT OF THE 30S IN A FEW SPOTS. COULD TOUCH 40 IN OTHERS. TONIGHT. WIDESPREAD RAIN, AREAS OF FOG AND LIGHT WINDS. TEMPERATUR
Code orange air quality alert in effect for most of south-central Pennsylvania
Updated: 5:13 AM EST Feb 19, 2026
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued a code orange air quality alert for parts of the Susquehanna Valley. The alert is in effect for Thursday for the following counties: Cumberland County Dauphin County Lancaster County Lebanon County York County What ‘Code Orange’ means Air pollution levels may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including: Children Older adults People with asthma People with heart disease or other lung diseases Fine particle pollution levels increase The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says fine particle pollution rose overnight and will continue to increase today. The WGAL News 8 Storm Team explains that a temperature inversion is trapping pollution near the ground: Cold, dense air is stuck at the surface, with warmer air above it. This “lid” prevents mixing and keeps pollutants like wood smoke and car exhaust concentrated near the ground. Light winds mean the pollution isn’t dispersing. Safety precautions Limit strenuous outdoor activity. Cut back on outdoor exercise. If you’re in a sensitive group, monitor how long you’re outside and take breaks as needed. Click here to check your local air quality. SOUTH-CENTRAL PA WEATHER RESOURCES: INTERACTIVE RADAR | ACTIVE WEATHER ALERTS | CURRENT CONDITIONS | HOURLY FORECAST | 10-DAY FORECAST | WEEKEND FORECAST | MAP ROOM | DOWNLOAD THE APP | WEATHER EMAILS
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued a code orange air quality alert for parts of the Susquehanna Valley.
The alert is in effect for Thursday for the following counties:
Cumberland County Dauphin County Lancaster County Lebanon County York County
What ‘Code Orange’ means
Air pollution levels may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including:
Children Older adults People with asthma People with heart disease or other lung diseases
Fine particle pollution levels increase
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says fine particle pollution rose overnight and will continue to increase today.
The WGAL News 8 Storm Team explains that a temperature inversion is trapping pollution near the ground:
Cold, dense air is stuck at the surface, with warmer air above it. This “lid” prevents mixing and keeps pollutants like wood smoke and car exhaust concentrated near the ground. Light winds mean the pollution isn’t dispersing.
Safety precautions Limit strenuous outdoor activity. Cut back on outdoor exercise. If you’re in a sensitive group, monitor how long you’re outside and take breaks as needed.
Click here to check your local air quality.
SOUTH-CENTRAL PA WEATHER RESOURCES: INTERACTIVE RADAR | ACTIVE WEATHER ALERTS | CURRENT CONDITIONS | HOURLY FORECAST | 10-DAY FORECAST | WEEKEND FORECAST | MAP ROOM | DOWNLOAD THE APP | WEATHER EMAILS