Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Wildfire Air Quality Summary for the Klamath Region

Air Quality Summary                                                                   

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Prepared by: Ryan Bauer (USDA-FS)

Yesterday Smoke trapped in the Wooley Creek and Salmon River drainage and in Shasta and Scott Valleys cleared out by early afternoon. Ft Jones had the highest smoke impacts, in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range, mostly due to residual smoke from the previous day but, after only a few hours of clean air in the afternoon, smoke began rolling back into the valley in the evening. Other areas impacted yesterday included Etna, Yreka, and Weed, all of which saw moderate impacts before mid-day and improving air quality through the afternoon as southerly winds began to strengthen. All other monitors measured good air quality, and no significant smoke impacts were seen in southern Oregon.  Today Smoke trapped in the Scott, and Quartz Valley areas and the lower Salmon River drainage should once again clear by mid-day as inversions break. Stronger southerly winds will develop this afternoon which should provide excellent smoke transport. By this evening smoke impacts are likely in the upper Klamath and Scott River drainages, and Quartz Valley and Ft Jones could see minor impacts during the late afternoon and evening but lighter than yesterday’s. Moderate impacts are also predicted in the Ashland/Medford area in the afternoon and evening depending mostly on the amount of smoke production on the fires today. Tomorrow Southerly winds continue as a wet cold front moves onshore bringing showers to the region Wednesday into Thursday. Smoke in valleys and drainages in the morning may be slow to clear under cloudy skies. Depending on when the rain and showers arrive, afternoon and evening impacts are possible in the upper Klamath and Scott River drainages, Quartz Valley, Ft Jones, and Yreka, but impacts should be light if they do occur. Impacts are not expected to reach the Medford and Ashland, OR area.
Site	September 22 Yesterday’s AQI	September 23 Today’s AQI	September 24 Predicted AQI	Likely Time of Highest Impacts Today
Yreka	Moderate	Moderate	Good	Afternoon/Early Evening
Fort Jones	Unhealthy for sensitive groups	Moderate	Moderate	Afternoon/Early Evening
Etna	Moderate	Good	Good	Evening
Seiad Valley	Good	Moderate	Good	Early Afternoon
Happy Camp	Good	Good	Good	Early Afternoon
Somes Bar	No Data	Good	Good	Nighttime
Orleans	Good	Good	Good	Nighttime
Wietchpec	Good	Good	Good	None
Hoopa	Good	Good	Good	None
Willow Creek	Good	Good	Good	None
Weed	Moderate	Good	Good	Morning
Sawyer's Bar	Good	Good	Good	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.