State health department officials will extend their ozone monitoring through Labor Day weekend because readings may spike, as they did last weekend, catching the health department off-guard.

"We are expecting similar conditions this weekend. Since we had high readings last weekend, it makes sense, especially since a lot of activity will be outdoors," Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment spokesman Christopher Dann said Thursday.

Ozone forecasting and alerts are normally issued June 1 through Aug. 31. Dann said the program may be extended into September to ensure those with respiratory problems have adequate advance notice that ozone levels are likely to exceed safe levels.

Ozone alerts warn those at risk to limit exercise and exposure to outside air. For more information, call 303-782-0211 or visit -ozone aware.org.

smithj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5474