INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – Southern Californians can hope they weren’t breathing too deeply this past summer.

For two summers in a row, there were significantly more days of unhealthful air quality. The Air Quality Management District (AQMD) blamed hotter-than-normal temperatures that accelerated ozone production.

The AQMD recorded 132 days that exceeded the federal 8-hour ozone standard compared to 129 days last year.

Three San Bernardino County communities had the Los Angeles Air Basin’s worst air: Redlands (109 days), Crestline (105 days) and San Bernardino (105 days). San Bernardino also had the basin’s single worst day of the year on July 7th.

The bad air also reached the Coachella Valley with 66 days that exceeded the 8-hour ozone standard. That compared to 50 days last year and 47 in 2015.

The AQMD said that in spite of poorer air quality, emissions from vehicles and other stationary sources are declining each year. Air quality should improve discounting weather factors.

Story Date: October 26, 2017