Stay informed
SkyCast
About the SkyCast
The Mid-America Regional Council tracks regional air quality and issues a daily SkyCast forecast from March through October, providing the Greater Kansas City region with a next‑day ground‑level ozone outlook. The SkyCast functions much like a weather report, offering a clear picture of the air quality conditions expected the following day.
The SkyCast combines pollution measurements and probable weather conditions to create a forecast for the next day.
The SkyCast is issued each afternoon by 4 p.m. between March 1 and Oct. 31, when we are most likely to experience an Ozone Alert.
Current SkyCast
Updates daily at 3 p.m. Central time.
What do the SkyCast values mean?
SkyCast uses colors based upon the EPA’s Air Quality Index (AQI). These colors represent what impact you can expect on your family’s health and what actions you should consider.
Green - Good
Healthy
- Air Quality Index Values: 0-50
- No health impacts expected
Yellow - Moderate
Elevated ozone concentration
- Air Quality Index Values: 51-100
- Sensitive people, such as those with respiratory ailments or allergies, should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
Orange - Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Ozone Alert (Orange)
- Air Quality Index Values: 101-150
- Active children and adults, and people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
Red - Unhealthy
Ozone Alert (Red)
- Air Quality Index Values: 151-200
- Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Everyone else should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
How to get the SkyCast
You can always find the SkyCast here. In addition to local news stations and the newspaper, you can also check the following sources.