Fighting Denver's Brown Cloud Could Mean 'Action Days' This Winter

DENVER (CBS4) - The unique meteorology along Colorado's Front Range creates problems with air quality each season.

In the summer we deal with pollution caused by ground-level ozone which forms on hot days with little wind.

On very cold days with little wind in the winter carbon monoxide and other particulate matter can create a brown cloud.

To help keep our air clean the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issues an air quality forecast each day for the seven-county Denver metro area.

On days between November 1 and March 31 when conditions favor the development of a brown cloud an "Action Day" will be called for until the next forecast.

Action days mean that indoor burning restrictions are in place.

Daily advisories are issued at 4 p.m. and can be found on the weather page of CBSDenver.com or by calling a recorded hotline at 303-758-4848.

For more details about indoor burning and regulations, visit the CDPHE website by clicking here.