PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Fireworks bring poor air quality to the Phoenix area on New Year’s Eve but forecasted rain may help reduce pollution levels compared to last year.
Last year, Phoenix had the third worst air quality in the world during New Year’s celebrations. The Valley’s geography, with mountains on the sides, traps smoke and pollution from fireworks.
Some parts of the Valley had hazardous air conditions to ring in 2025.
The state’s air quality meteorologist said if the forecast holds true and rain falls tonight and tomorrow, it will help push out pollution from fireworks.
“So if you’ve got a firework lighting up, the rain is going to fall. And if it’s producing smoke, then the rain is going to suppress that smoke. It’s going to wash out of the air and suppress it,” said Michael Graves, air quality meteorologist with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
Air pollution tracking will be available on azfamily.com/air.
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