Air Quality Report Thursday, September 5, 2013
Rim Fire, Stanislaus National Forest
Yesterday, September 4, 2013
Minimal growth was reported on the Rim Fire , the estimated total size remains 237,341 acres. Smoke under the inversion cleared by around noon in most areas. Southwest transport winds returned smoke to communities northeast of the fire, including Pinecrest, Bear Valley, Markleeville, Minden, Carson City, and the Lake Tahoe Basin. Smoke from the Rim Fire did not impact the Yosemite and San Joaquin Valleys.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Conditions this morning are about the same as yesterday. A fairly strong inversion once again brought smoke into communities as far downslope of the fire as Sonora and Columbia with about the same intensity. The heaviest morning smoke impacts are in communities to the northeast and in the immediate fire area such as Pinecrest, Bear Valley, Tuolumne City, Markleeville, Carson City, and Minden. This morning’s inversion should break around or a little before noon. All areas should see their best air quality in the afternoon. Daytime transport winds will remain southwesterly, keeping smoke out of the Yosemite Valley, El Portal, and the San Joaquin Valley. Nighttime impacts similar to yesterday are likely for Carson City and Minden, continuing into Friday morning.
Friday, September 6, 2013
The morning inversion is forecast to be the strongest yet for the week, likely to persist until early afternoon and cause smoke impacts in communities within the immediate fire area and as far south and west of the fire as Mariposa, La Grange, Greeley Hill, Columbia, and Sonora. Southwest transport winds and fair dispersion conditions will continue the rest of the day. This should keep air quality in the Yosemite Valley in the good range, and return areas south and west of the fire to better air quality by mid-afternoon. Areas north and northeast of the fire, including the Lake Tahoe Basin, and Washoe and Carson valleys will see early morning impacts, clearing in the afternoon, and possibly returning with lighter impacts in the nighttime hours if winds swing more to the west-southwest for a time.
Long term Outlook
Southwest winds continue but weaken considerably Saturday, providing poor transport of smoke out of the fire area. More pronounced downslope winds in the evening and nighttime will settle this smoke back into the foothills and central valley. Morning smoke impacts, lasting into the early afternoon are possible for central valley communities east of Hwy. 99 and as far north as Hwy 80 through the weekend. It looks, at this time, like the Yosemite and San Joaquin Valleys will see only minimal air quality impacts through the weekend.
Follow the links in the following table to view real-time air quality monitoring data for each site.
Site
|
24-hour Avg PM2.5
(µg/m3)
|
3-hour Max PM2.5
(μg/mᵌ)
|
Level of Health Concern
|
Meaning
|
Actions to Protect Yourself
|
Forecast
For Thurs.
Sept. 5, 2013
|
Yesterday, Sept. 4, 2013
| ||||||
La Grange
Mariposa
Greeley Hill
El Portal
Groveland
Tuol. Mdws
|
7
9
8
4
10
6
|
19-09:00
24-13:00
19-12:00
7-15:00
25-14:00
17-10:00
|
Good
|
Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk
|
None
|
La Grange
|
Yosemite Vly Reno
S. Lk. Tahoe Columbia
|
15
27
21
25
|
33-00:00
72-10:00
38-03:00
100-23:00
|
Moderate
|
Air quality is acceptable for most. There may be moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive people.
|
Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
|
Columbia
S. Lk. Tahoe
|
Tuol. City
Bear Valley
|
40
53
|
120-10:00
90-02:00
|
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
|
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
|
People with heart or lung disease, children and older adults should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Everyone else should limit prolonged or heavy exertion.
|
Tuol. City
|
Markleeville. Pinecrest
Carson City
Minden
Drew Mdw ICP
|
99
143
87
101
87
|
131-06:00
394-13:00
142-04:00
156-02:00
282-09:00
|
Unhealthy
|
Everyone may begin to experience more serious health effects.
|
The following groups should avoid all physical outdoor activity: People with heart or lung disease, children and older adults. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
|
Bear Valley
Markleeville
|
Air Quality Index (AQI) ratings are derived based on the recommendations found in Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials.
Tuolumne County APCD: http://portal.co.tuolumne.ca.us/psp/ps/TUP_AIR_POLL_CONTROL/ENTP/h/?tab=DEFAULT
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