Journal-News.com

Staff Report

A smog alert has been issued for today as Butler County and the rest of Greater Cincinnati look to approach the 25th day this summer with temperatures exceeding the 90-degree mark and some schools already planning to close early.

Officials from the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services said the alert today means active children and adults and people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion, according to the division, which serves Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties.

Smog is formed when ozone is created from a reaction between certain chemicals, heat and sunlight.

Even though environmental services is based out of Cincinnati, monitoring stations have been established in Hamilton and Middletown.

The forecast today calls for temperatures to reach the upper 90s. Temperatures are expected to dip into the mid 60s by tonight, the NWS reports.

The NWS is calling for temperatures to be in the mid to upper 80s with a better chance for a pop-up thunderstorm on Thursday.

Temperatures are expected to dip into the low to mid 80s for the Labor Day weekend with less humidity.