Air Quality Report Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Rim Fire, Stanislaus National Forest
Yesterday, September 2, 2013
The Rim Fire grew approximately 1,700 acres, to a total size of 232,783 acres. Burnout operations on the northern and southern portions of the fire continued with success through the night. Southwest transport winds returned smoke to the communities northeast of the fire, including Pinecrest, Bear Valley, Markleeville, Minden, Carson City, and the Lake Tahoe Basin, and returned clearer skies to Sonora, the Yosemite Valley, El Portal, and the San Joaquin Valley.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Smoke will again have the heaviest impacts to communities to the northeast and in the immediate fire area in the morning hours such as Pinecrest, Bear Valley, Tuolumne City, Markleeville, South Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and Minden. Morning inversions could be stronger and slower to break, but otherwise atmospheric conditions will be very similar to yesterday. All areas should see their best air quality in the afternoon except perhaps Pinecrest. Daytime transport winds will remain southwesterly, reducing impacts to the Yosemite Valley, El Portal, and the San Joaquin Valley.
Wednesday, Spetember 4, 2013
Southwest transport winds and good dispersion conditions will continue today. This should keep air quality in the Yosemite Valley and areas south of the fire in the good to moderate range. Areas north and northeast of the fire, including the Lake Tahoe Basin, and Washoe and Carson valleys will see similar impacts. Communities within the immediate fire area will continue to see smoke from morning inversions.
Long term Outlook
Southwest winds will continue thru Friday, then another period of northwest winds is likely through the weekend and possibly into next week. Smoke production from the Rim fire is still likely by then, so the Yosemite and San Joaquin Valleys could again see air quality impacts.
Follow the links in the following table to view real-time air quality monitoring data for each site.
Site
|
24-hour Avg PM2.5
(µg/m3)
|
3-hour Max PM2.5
(μg/mᵌ)
|
Level of Health Concern
|
Meaning
|
Actions to Protect Yourself
|
Forecast
For Tues.
Sept. 3, 2013
|
Yesterday, Sept. 2, 2013
| ||||||
La Grange
Mariposa
Columbia
Greeley Hill
El Portal
Yosemite Vly
Mariposa
|
3
11
6
6
5
12
6
|
8-11:00
40-00:00
10-20:00
15-12:00
8-15:00
27-01:00
11-18:00
|
Good
|
Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk
|
None
|
La Grange
Columbia
Mariposa
Yosemite Vly.
|
Reno
Groveland
Tuol. Mdws
|
27
14
18
|
59-10:00
59-12:00
112-00:00
|
Moderate
|
Air quality is acceptable for most. There may be moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive people.
|
Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
|
|
S. Lk. Tahoe Tuol. City
Carson City
|
52
33
53
|
124-04:00
137-11:00
104-03:00
|
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
|
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
|
People with heart or lung disease, children and older adults should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Everyone else should limit prolonged or heavy exertion.
|
S. Lk. Tahoe
Tuol. City
|
Bear Valley
Markleeville.
|
94
71
|
246-07:00
139-23:00
|
Unhealthy
|
Everyone may begin to experience more serious health effects.
|
The following groups should avoid all physical outdoor activity: People with heart or lung disease, children and older adults. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
|
Bear Valley
Markleeville
|
Pinecrest
Drew Mdw ICP
|
143
185
|
250-13:00
569-09:00
|
Very Unhealthy
|
Triggers a health alert, meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects
|
Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
| |
Air Quality Index (AQI) ratings are derived based on the recommendations found in Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials.
Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control: (209)533-5174 http://portal.co.tuolumne.ca.us/psp/ps/TUP_AIR_POLL_CONTROL/ENTP/h/?tab=DEFAULT
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