Monday, August 25, 2014 - Wildfire Air Quality Summary for the Klamath Region

Air Quality Summary Report                                                                                        

  Monday, August 25, 2014

Prepared by: Kelly Palmer, Ryan Bauer, and Ron Sherron

Yesterday Sunny with warm temperatures and dry.  Early morning light northerly winds shifting to daytime and evening westerly winds moved smoke into most area communities. The Klamath, Salmon, and Trinity River, extending to coastal areas including Arcata and Eureka were smoky in the morning.  Smoke then moved into the Scott and Shasta valleys and Yreka by afternoon as winds shifted to a westerly direction.  Nighttime conditions allowed smoke to settle into valley and canyon locations including Sawyers Bar.  Today Offshore flow forecasted.  Continued warm, dry conditions will contribute to active fire behavior today.  Forecasted easterly, northeast winds may lead to all day smoke in the Klamath, Salmon, and Trinity River and coastal communities.  Nighttime conditions will again allow smoke to settle into valley locations through the early morning.     Tomorrow Generally light winds are forecasted along with hot and dry weather which will lead to continued active fire behavior and smoky conditions.  Smoky conditions and poor smoke transport may lead to degraded air quality in widespread areas including the Klamath, Salmon, and Trinity Rivers, Scott Valley, and Shasta Valley due to stagnant air conditions.  Calm conditions at late night will allow smoke to settle into valley and drainage locations.
Site	August 24 AQI		August 25 Today AQI	August 26 AQI		Likely Time of Highest Impacts Today
Yreka	Moderate		Good	Moderate		Night
Ft. Jones	Unhealthy		Moderate	USG		Evening
Etna	USG		Moderate	USG		Evening
Klamath River	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		Late Morning
Happy Camp	Very Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Very Unhealthy		Late Morning
Somes Bar	Unhealthy		USG	USG		Afternoon
Orleans	USG		USG	USG		Afternoon
Weitchpec	Moderate		USG	USG		Afternoon
Hoopa	Moderate		USG	USG		Afternoon
Willow Creek	USG		USG	USG		Afternoon
Mt. Shasta	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		Night
Weed	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		Night
Sawyers Bar	Very Unhealthy		Very Unhealthy	Very Unhealthy		Morning
PLEASE NOTE: The air quality outlook is based on data from automated instruments that have not been subjected to a quality assurance review. AQI’s estimated for sites with air monitors.
Air Quality Index		Potential Health Impacts			Actions to Reduce Smoke Exposure
Good		Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk			None
Moderate		Air quality is acceptable for most.  There may be moderate health concern for a very small number of individuals.			Sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults should limit time spend outdoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups		Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects.  The general public is not likely to be affected.			Everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to smoke.  Sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults should minimize exposure by staying inside where air is cleaner.
Unhealthy		Everyone may begin to experience health effects.  These effects may be more serious for sensitive people.			Everyone should limit time spent outdoors and choose non-strenuous indoor activities.  Sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults should stay indoors where air is clean.
Very Unhealthy		Triggers a health alert meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects			Everyone should limit time spent outdoors and preferably stay indoors where air is clean.   Staying indoors is especially important for sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults.
Hazardous		Triggers health warnings of emergency conditions.  Everyone is very likely to be affected by serious health effects.			Everyone should avoid all outdoor activity.  Relief from smoke is best accomplished by leaving for cleaner air.  Alternately, remain indoors  where air is clean.