Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 Wildfire Air Quality Summary for the Klamath Region

Air Quality Summary                                                                 

Tuesday, September 16, 2014      

Prepared by: Dan Chan (GA-GFC) and Ryan Bauer (USDA-FS)

Yesterday Yreka, Fort Jones, Etna, Macdoel, and Seiad Valley had “Moderate” level smoke impacts. Smoke from the Boles Fire at Weed appeared to impact only those areas immediately downwind such as Lake Shastina and eastern Shasta Valley. However, power outage disabled the stations at Weed and Mt. Shasta, so no data are available on the impacts there.   Today Smoke lingering in the valley bottom will be dispersed as the inversion is lifted in late morning.  With an expected strong southerly/southwesterly wind today, smoke will continue to be pushed to the north of the fires.  So, communities to the north of the fire in Upper Klamath River Valley and Scott Valley are likely to experience elevated smoke concentration.  By evening, smoke is likely to return to the upper Shasta Valley and Scott Valley, in addition to the Upper Klamath River valley. Tomorrow Incident meteorologist at the Happy Camp Complex is predicting 80% chance of rain for tomorrow evening.  So, smoke dispersion is likely to be reduced and smoke may linger around the valley bottoms.  Smoke impacts are likely to continue in the valleys and drainages surrounding the fire area, although, any rain will help to scour smoke from the air.
Site	September 15 Yesterday’s AQI	September 16 Today’s AQI	September 17 Predicted AQI	Likely Time of Highest Impacts Today
Yreka	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Afternoon/Early Evening
Fort Jones	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Afternoon/Early Evening
Etna	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Evening
Macdoel	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Late Afternoon/ Evening
Seiad Valley	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Early Afternoon
Happy Camp	Good	Moderate	Moderate	Early Afternoon
Somes Bar	Good	Good	Good	Afternoon
Orleans	Good	Good	Good	Afternoon
Wietchpec	Good	Good	Good	Afternoon
Hoopa	Good	Good	Good	Late Afternoon/Evening
Willow Creek	Good	Good	Good	Evening
Mt. Shasta	No Data	Good	Good	Evening
Weed	No Data	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Moderate	Evening
Sawyer's Bar	Good	Good	Moderate	Late 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.