As Valley forecasts get hotter this season, environmental managers warn air quality in Phoenix will start to deteriorate. A recent study from the American Lung Association ranks Phoenix among the 10 worst cities in the country for ground-level ozone.

Bob Huhn is with the Maricopa County Air Quality Department. He said conditions this year aren’t expected to be quite as bad as they have in the past, thanks to recent outreach efforts and higher levels of rain in 2014.

"Mother Nature can help us and sometimes hurt us," added Huhn. "Rain is always our friend at air quality. It knocks down the pollutants."

Huhn said the air in Phoenix does meet federal standards. According to the Air Quality Department, the number of days that exceeded EPA guidelines has decreased more than 60 percent since 2012.