Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - Wildfire Air Quality Summary for the Klamath Region,

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Air Quality Summary Report                                                                                       

 Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Prepared by: Ryan Bauer (USDA-FS)  

Yesterday Northeasterly to easterly winds were dominant all day and into the evening over the region. Decent dispersion kept smoke impacts lighter than expected for most areas. Somes Bar and Sawyers Bar were the two most heavily impacted communities, but both had better air quality than they have had the past couple of days. Except for early morning impacts in the Scott and Shasta Valleys, yesterday’s smoke impacts were confined to the Klamath, Salmon, and Trinity River drainages.   Today High pressure is building over the area today into Thursday. Transport winds from the northeast will be strongest in the morning and nighttime hours. Closer to the surface, winds will battle between easterly and westerly through the day with the possibility of pushing smoke to the east for a few hours this afternoon and evening before northerly winds regain strength. Smoke impacts will be mostly confined to the Klamath, Salmon, and Trinity River drainages early, with a chance of impacts to Scott and Shasta Valleys and Yreka late in the day. By nighttime smoke should clear out of the eastside Valleys and again settle into the drainages of the Klamath and Salmon Rivers.     Tomorrow Continued hot, dry weather with light winds, generally northerly in the morning and nighttime hours but becoming westerly during the afternoon and evening. Poor dispersion and 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 stagnation while under the high pressure system.
Site	August 24 AQI		August 25 Today AQI	August 26 AQI		Likely Time of Highest Impacts Today
Yreka	Good		Moderate	Moderate		Late afternoon/Evening
Ft. Jones	Moderate		Moderate	USG		Late afternoon/Evening
Etna	Moderate		Moderate	USG		Late afternoon/Evening
Seiad Valley	No Data		Moderate	USG		Late Morning
Happy Camp	Moderate		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Late Morning
Somes Bar	USG		USG	USG		Afternoon
Orleans	Moderate		USG	USG		Afternoon
Weitchpec	Moderate		USG	USG		Afternoon
Hoopa	Moderate		USG	USG		Afternoon
Willow Creek	Moderate		USG	Moderate		Afternoon
Mt. Shasta	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		Evening
Weed	Good		Moderate	Moderate		Evening
Sawyers Bar	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.