Friday, August 29, 2014 Wildfire Air Quality Summary for the Klamath Region

Revised Air Quality Summary Report                                                                  

  Friday, August 29, 2014

Prepared by: Ryan Bauer (USDA-FS)   

Yesterday Light and variable transport winds became westerly by mid-day. Smoke from the day before had a few hours to clear from Scott and Shasta Valleys before fire activity increased in the afternoon and smoke returned for the rest of the day. Happy Camp and Seiad Valley saw impacts occur during the typical time of day but of lower intensity. Communities in the Klamath and Trinity River drainages had only moderate smoke impacts and all saw a few hours of good air quality. Sawyers Bar’s air quality continues to improve as the smoke production from the Whites fire tapers. Today High pressure remains in place through mid-day until a cold front moves across the area this afternoon. Light winds this morning will become westerly by mid-day before becoming northwesterly this evening. Smoke that impacted the communities east of the fires yesterday cleared out fairly well overnight as a result of northwesterly winds, but impacts will begin to return by late morning as the westerly flow resumes and fire activity picks up. Very little smoke settled into the Klamath and Salmon River drainages last night so, impacts to communities there should be fairly light today. By this evening winds become northwesterly and may push smoke into the southern Scott and Shasta Valleys. Impacts are likely to be highest in Happy Camp, Seiad Valley, Yreka, Ft. Jones, and Etna again today.    Tomorrow Stronger northwesterly winds, cooler temperatures, and better smoke dispersion continue into the weekend. Conditions will still be smoky for communities southeast of the fires but better dispersion should provide a few hours of cleaner air. By Saturday evening smoke impacts could reach Weaverville and Redding.
Site	August 28 AQI		August 29 Today AQI	August 30 AQI		Likely Time of Highest Impacts Today
Yreka	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	USG		Late afternoon/Evening
Ft. Jones	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Late afternoon/Evening
Etna	Moderate		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Late afternoon/Evening
Seiad Valley	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	USG		Late Morning-Afternoon
Happy Camp	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	USG		Late Morning-Afternoon
Somes Bar	Moderate		Good	Moderate		Afternoon
Orleans	Moderate		Good	Moderate		Afternoon
Weitchpec	Good		Good	Moderate		Afternoon
Hoopa	Moderate		Good	Moderate		Afternoon/Evening
Willow Creek	Moderate		Good	Moderate		Afternoon/Evening
Mt. Shasta	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Evening
Weed	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Evening
Sawyers Bar	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		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.