Ozone alert today; reduce outdoor activity

An air pollution health alert is issued for the Twin Cities until midnight today.

Ozone levels tonight could be unhealthy for people with respiratory conditions, the elderly or children, said Sam Brungardt, spokesperson for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The MPCA issued the advisory.

"If people have preexisting health conditions are likely to have a rough time, so we're advising people to go ahead and to stay inside in an air-conditioned space," Brungardt said.

The MPCA is advising even healthy residents to postpone or reduce outdoor activities.

"You don't want to get in a situation where you're exercising very heavily," Brungardt said. "If you normally do that in the evening, today is not a good day to do that."

The MPCA is asking Twin Cities residents to help reduce ozone by limiting their car use and postponing activities like lawn mowing.

Increased winds and cooler temperatures are expected to lower ozone levels on Thursday.