Here comes summer. The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has issued an ozone alert health advisory for Wednesday, June 20. The DEM predicts,
. . . that air quality will reach unhealthy levels in most of Rhode Island, but especially in southern sections in the afternoon on Wednesday. A very hot and very humid air mass with west to southwest winds will be present at that time, which will lead to unhealthy air conditions. The poor air quality will be due to elevated ground level ozone concentrations. Ozone is a major component of smog and is formed by the photochemical reaction of pollutants emitted by motor vehicles, industry and other sources in the presence of elevated temperatures and sunlight.
All RIPTA routes, excluding special services, will be free on Wednesday, June 20 — and again Thursday, June 21.