Air pollution forecast April 2015

8 Apr 2015 12:33 PM

The latest air pollution forecasts and health advice for the week starting 6 April 2015.

Current forecasts show air pollution levels are expected to rise over the next few days and reach high or very high levels on Friday. This is due to locally generated particulate matter combining with pollution blown in from the near continent - and a contribution from Saharan dust.

We expect this to have cleared by Saturday morning and we will be regularly updating this page with the latest forecast and health advice.

You can also follow us on twitter via @DefraUKAir and #ukair.

Forecast

Today (8 April)

Air pollution levels are forecast to be low across most of the United Kingdom today but with isolated areas of moderate air pollution due to light winds under a slow moving area of high pressure.

Tomorrow (9 April)

The high pressure moves away to the east for Thursday with the southeasterly flow leading to pollution levels becoming moderate in many parts of England and Wales, as well as parts of northern and western Scotland and the east of Northern Ireland.

Outlook

Levels of air pollution are forecast to become high across central, eastern and northern England, with locally very high pollution levels for a time in the far southeast of England, due to a flow from the south. Across the rest of the United Kingdom, mainly moderate air pollution levels are forecast. During Saturday, clearer Atlantic air will spread across all areas bringing levels down on Saturday and Sunday, back to generally low with isolated areas of moderate.

Air quality forecast maps 8 to 12 April 2015
Air quality forecast maps 8 to 12 April 2015

Health advice

Air Pollution Banding Accompanying health messages for at-risk individuals* Accompanying health messages for the general population
Low Enjoy your usual outdoor activities. Enjoy your usual outdoor activities.
Moderate Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, who experience symptoms, should consider reducing strenuous physical activity, particularly outdoors. Enjoy your usual outdoor activities.
High Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms. People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. Older people should also reduce physical exertion. Anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors.
Very High Adults and children with lung problems, adults with heart problems, and older people, should avoid strenuous physical activity. People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. Reduce physical exertion, particularly outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as cough or sore throat.

*Adults and children with heart or lung problems are at greater risk of symptoms. Follow your doctor’s usual advice about exercising and managing your condition. It is possible that very sensitive individuals may experience health effects even on Low air pollution days.