Fay brought Atlanta something good — clean air

Tropical Depression Fay brought metro Atlanta more than just buckets of rain that raised Lake Lanier by 2.5 feet. She also ushered in a week of fresh air.

Starting last Sunday, along with the rains, fresh air blew in, reeling off five good-air days in a row.

Green air days are generally a rarity in August, when hot, dry weather conspires with the region’s exhaust pipes and smokestacks to produce unhealthy amounts of smog.

Now that she’s gone, Fay took the fresh air with her. Today’s air is expected to violate federal smog standards.

It’s still uncertain how Hurricane Gustav, gathering strength in the Caribbean Sea, or Tropical Storm Hanna near the Bahamas, could affect metro Atlanta. If the storms don’t come close enough, they could actually create smog conditions, said Bill Murphey, the chief meteorologist for the state Environmental Protection Division.

“Normally, these tropical systems play havoc with our [air quality] forecasts,” Murphey said.

— Stacy Shelton