Air Quality Report Monday, September 9, 2013
Rim Fire, Stanislaus National Forest
Yesterday, September 8, 2013
The Rim Fire burned approximately 3,000 acres, mostly within the containment lines. It is currently 253,332 acres. Easterly winds pushed smoke into the central valley where it was trapped under a weak inversion. Transport winds in the fire area were very weak so, smoke did not clear from many areas until well into the afternoon. Northwest transport winds developed in the afternoon, pushing smoke into the Yosemite and San Joaquin Valley regions. Areas north and east of the fire had their first break from smoke in several days.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Easterly winds overnight pushed the Rim fire smoke into the San Joaquin Valley. Morning smoke is spread throughout the region with the heaviest impacts in Columbia, Le Grange, Greeley Hill, Groveland, El Portal, and Tuolumne Meadows. Communities in the San Joaquin Valley may see further impacts as the inversion breaks and smoke begins to mix into the atmosphere. General smoky haze is likely for most of the day. Transport winds will remain light westerly to northwesterly through the day, and easterly through the night. Evening and nighttime impacts similar to yesterday are likely for the Yosemite and San Joaquin Valley region.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Morning impacts are likely to likely to be about the same for the Yosemite and San Joaquin Valleys. The morning inversion is forecast to be weaker, but nighttime easterly flows will keep smoke impacts high for areas west and southwest of the fire. Impacts are predicted to extend further northwest into the Sacramento Valley and foothills during the morning hours as well. Lazy transport winds will be slow to clear smoke, but vertical mixing will be fairly decent, likely providing some relief in the afternoon hours, particularly in the mountains. 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
Wednesday is forecast to be about the same, with morning impacts maybe a bit less in the San Joaquin Valley, as nighttime downslope winds are predicted to be lighter. Daytime transport winds remain light westerly. Diurnal slope and drainage winds will be the dominant flows in the Sierras and should provide some clearing in the afternoon.
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 Monday,
Sept. 9, 2013
|
Yesterday, Sept. 8, 2013
| ||||||
Reno
|
11
|
22-09:00
|
Good
|
Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk
|
None
|
S. Lk. Tahoe
|
Mariposa
El Portal
S. Lk. Tahoe Carson City
|
13
19
21
25
|
29-10:00
58-12:00
65-10:00
67-11:0
|
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.
|
Markleeville
|
Markleeville Minden Yosemite Vly*
|
42
43
|
128-04:00
107-06:00
|
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.
|
Yosemite Vly.
Bear Valley
La Grange
|
Columbia
Bear Valley
Greeley Hill
Groveland
Pinecrest
Tuol. Mdws
|
76
59
64
96
64
65
|
224-07:00
180-02:00
232-10:00
231-10:00
135-04:00
182-18:00
|
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
Greeley Hill Columbia
|
Tuol. City
Drew Mdw ICP
|
155
153
|
473-09:00
269-09:00
|
Very Unhealthy
|
Triggers a health alert, meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects
|
Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
|
|
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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