Wednesday, August 27, 2014 Wildfire Air Quality Summary for the Klamath Region

Air Quality Summary Report                                                                       

  Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Prepared by: Ryan Bauer (USDA-FS)  

Yesterday Light northerly transport winds were dominant through early afternoon when westerly surface winds strengthened enough to turn the tide. By late afternoon and evening west to northwest winds pushed smoke into Happy Camp, then Seiad Valley, and later into Scott Valley. Smoke impacts early in the day to Klamath and Trinity River communities were fairly light, but afternoon and evening impacts were some of the highest seen to date. Sawyers Bar remained smoky most of the day except for a short break in the early afternoon.  Today High pressure continues to build over the area today into Thursday. Light easterly winds this morning will become westerly by mid-day. A large amount of smoke has settled into Scott Valley and the Klamath River drainage east of Happy Camp. Drainages and valleys will be slow to clean out and may only see a few hours of clean air east of the fires before smoke returns this afternoon. Impacts are likely to be highest in Happy Camp, Seiad Valley, Sawyers Bar, and Scott Valley again today.     Tomorrow Continued hot, dry weather with light winds, generally easterly to northeasterly 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 26 AQI		August 27 Today AQI	August 28 AQI		Likely Time of Highest Impacts Today
Yreka	Good		USG	USG		Late afternoon/Evening
Ft. Jones	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Late afternoon/Evening
Etna	Moderate		USG	USG		Late afternoon/Evening
Seiad Valley	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Late Morning-Afternoon
Happy Camp	Hazardous		Hazardous	Hazardous		Late Morning-Afternoon
Somes Bar	USG		USG	USG		Afternoon
Orleans	Moderate		Moderate	USG		Afternoon
Weitchpec	Moderate		Moderate	USG		Afternoon
Hoopa	Moderate		Moderate	USG		Afternoon
Willow Creek	Moderate		Moderate	USG		Afternoon
Mt. Shasta	Good		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.