Thursday, August 28, 2014 Wildfire Air Quality Summary for the Klamath Region

AirQuality Summary Report                                                                                        

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Prepared by: Ryan Bauer (USDA-FS)  

Yesterday Light northerly transport winds gave way by mid-day to westerly winds which continued for the rest of the day. Smoke from the day before never had a chance to clear from Scott Valley where impacts continued through the day. By late afternoon smoke impacted Yreka due to increased fire activity on the Happy Camp Complex. Communities in the Klamath and Trinity River drainages had only moderate smoke impacts and all saw a few hours of good air quality. Sawyers Bar had its mildest day of smoke impacts in many days although it still reached the unhealthy level for a few hours in the late morning. Today High pressure remains in place over the area today. Light winds this morning will become westerly by mid-day again. Smoke that is impacting the communities east of the fires should lessen for a few hours early in the day but is likely to return as fire activity increases this afternoon and evening. Impacts are likely to be highest in Happy Camp, Seiad Valley, Sawyers Bar, Yreka, and Scott Valley again today.     Tomorrow A dry cold front will move into the area Friday bringing stronger westerly to northwesterly winds during the afternoon and evening, cooler temperatures, and better smoke dispersion. Conditions will still be smoky for communities east of the fires but better dispersion should provide a few hours of cleaner air. By Friday evening winds become northerly and smoke impacts could again reach Weaverville and Redding.
Site	August 27 AQI		August 28 Today AQI	August 29 AQI		Likely Time of Highest Impacts Today
Yreka	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	USG		Late afternoon/Evening
Ft. Jones	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Late afternoon/Evening
Etna	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Late afternoon/Evening
Seiad Valley	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	USG		Late Morning-Afternoon
Happy Camp	Very Unhealthy		Unhealthy	USG		Late Morning-Afternoon
Somes Bar	Moderate		Moderate	Good		Afternoon
Orleans	Moderate		Moderate	Good		Afternoon
Weitchpec	Moderate		Moderate	Good		Afternoon
Hoopa	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		Afternoon/Evening
Willow Creek	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		Afternoon/Evening
Mt. Shasta	Moderate		Moderate	USG		Evening
Weed	USG		USG	USG		Evening
Sawyers Bar	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	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.