Tuesday, August 26, 2014

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.

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