Air Quality Report Sunday, September 8, 2013
Rim Fire, Stanislaus National Forest
Yesterday, September 7, 2013
The Rim Fire burned approximately 3,000 acres, mostly within the containment lines. It is currently 250,649 acres. A strong inversion brought smoke down the Clavey and Tuolumne River drainages, into the Lake Don Pedro basin and the central valley. Smoke trapped by the inversion cleared a little before noon in most areas. Transport winds in the fire area were southwesterly so, the main smoke plume traveled mainly northeast toward the communities of Pinecrest, Bear Valley, Markleeville, and Bridgeport. Northwest winds east of the Sierra crest kept all but light smoke out of Minden and Carson City most of the day, but weakened in the evening resulting in some impacts in Minden this morning. The Yosemite and San Joaquin Valleys were not impacted by smoke from the Rim Fire.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
More fire activity yesterday and into the night, coupled with a stronger inversion caused smoke to drain down the Clavey and Tuolumne River drainages, into the Lake Don Pedro basin and further into the central valley than previous mornings. Morning air quality impacts are heaviest in Tuolumne City, Pinecrest, Bear Valley, Markleeville, and Columbia. Le Grange and Minden are both experiencing impacts this morning as well. The inversion should break by noon in all areas. Transport winds will shift through the day from southwesterly early to west-northwesterly by late afternoon, likely bringing smoke into the Tuolumne Meadows area, Yosemite Valley, El Portal, and the San Joaquin Valley late in the evening. Nighttime impacts similar to yesterday are likely for Minden and possibly further south in Bridgeport and Lee Vining.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Morning impacts are likely to extend south into the Yosemite and San Joaquin Valleys as far as Fresno. The model is no longer predicting impacts to the north into the Sacramento Valley. The morning inversion is still forecast to be quite strong, and likely to persist until around noon. Transport winds be weak westerly and possibly even northwesterly late in the day. Any relief should come in the afternoon, but by late afternoon and into evening smoke will roll back into the Yosemite and San Joaquin Valleys and persist into the following morning. East side communities, including Markleeville, Minden, and Carson City should get a break from heavy smoke for a few days.
Long term Outlook
Tuesday remains about the same, with morning impacts perhaps extending even further south to Visalia. Daytime transport winds remain light westerly to northwesterly. Diurnal slope and drainage winds in the Sierras should provide some clearing in the afternoon, but widespread smoke is predicted to linger over much of the region.
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 Sunday,
Sept. 8, 2013
|
Yesterday, Sept. 7, 2013
| ||||||
Mariposa
El Portal
Yosemite Vly Tuol. Mdws
|
11
5
7
11
|
31-10:00
11-14:00
12-21:00
54-22:00
|
Good
|
Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk
|
None
| |
Greeley Hill
Reno
S. Lk. Tahoe Columbia Carson City
Minden
|
21
13
25
31
27
32
|
65-10:00
23-13:00
47-04:00
77-09:00
34-09:00
69-00:00
|
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.
|
S. Lk. Tahoe
La Grange Markleeville
|
Bear Valley
Markleeville
|
55
35
|
156-13:00
82-15:00
|
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.
|
Columbia
Bear Valley
|
Groveland
Tuol. City
Pinecrest
Drew Mdw ICP*
|
57
84
104
|
201-09:00
289-09:00
283-12:00
|
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.
|
Tuol. City
|
Air Quality Index (AQI) ratings are derived based on the recommendations found in Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials.
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