Saturday, August 23, 2014 Wildfire Air Quality Report for the Klamath Region

Air Quality Summary Report                                                                                        

  Saturday, August 23, 2014

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

Yesterday A weak, dry cold front moved through the area and brought slightly cooler daytime temperatures to the area.  More stable weather and light winds existed most of the day and contributed to poor air quality, especially in the Scott Valley and Yreka. Northeast winds in the evening helped clean out smoke in Scott Valley last night. Fire activity on the Whites fire created smoky conditions throughout the morning and afternoon for Sawyers Bar.  Today Sunny with warmer temperature and dry NE winds throughout most of the day and evening. The potential for very active to extreme fire behavior exists today. Smoke impacts to Klamath, Salmon, and Trinity River communities are likely, possibly extending to coastal areas including Arcata and Eureka.  Air quality should improve in the communities of Yreka, Ft. Jones and Etna in comparison to yesterday.  Nighttime conditions will again allow smoke to settle into valley and canyon locations.  Tomorrow   Dry conditions persist with easterly or northeasterly winds forecasted.  Smoke impacts will be similar to today. The Klamath Valley and coastal communities may receive another day of elevated smoke impacts. Calm conditions at late night will allow smoke to settle into valley locations.
Site	August 22 AQI		August 23 Today AQI	August 24 AQI		Highest Impacts Time of Day
Yreka	Unhealthy		Moderate	Good		4am-10am
Ft. Jones	Unhealthy		Moderate	Moderate		Midnight-4pm
Etna	Unhealthy		USG	Moderate		Midnight-7pm
Klamath River	USG		Moderate	Moderate		11am-Noon
Happy Camp	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		9am
Somes Bar	Good		USG	USG		Midnight
Orleans	Good		USG	USG		4pm
Weitchpec	Good		USG	USG		12pm – 3pm
Hoopa	Good		USG	USG		12pm – 3pm
Willow Creek	Good		USG	USG		Noon-3
Mt. Shasta	Moderate		Moderate	Good		Midnight-7pm
Weed	Moderate		Good	Good		11am-6pm
Sawyers Bar	Unhealthy		Very Unhealthy	Very Unhealthy		6am-MIdday
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.