Saturday, September 20, 2014, Wildfire Air Quality Report for the Klamath Region

Air Quality Summary                                                              

Saturday, September 20, 2014

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

Yesterday  Orleans had “Moderate” air quality during the late afternoon/evening yesterday.  Other monitors in the area measured “Good” air quality.  Northeasterly wind brought elevated smoke concentration to the Lower Klamath River drainage but no serious impacts.   Today  Smoke concentration is expected to improve at Orleans by late morning.  Southeast winds in the morning are forecast to shift to southwesterly to westerly winds in the afternoon. Happy Camp and Seiad Valley could begin to see smoke impacts by mid-day as the wind shift moves the smoke plume over them, but by evening conditions should improve. Smoke impacts will likely return to the Scott River drainage and Scott Valley in the late afternoon and evening and may persist overnight. Air quality impacts to southern Oregon are not forecast to be significant but some smoke could reach Grants Pass and Medford by late afternoon. Tomorrow  Westerly wind is predicted to return for tomorrow.  This will bring elevated smoke concentrations back to the Scott Valley, Quartz Valley, and the Scott River and Upper Klamath River drainages tomorrow. Increased atmospheric instability should keep most of the smoke aloft during the heat of the day so, impacts are likely to be highest in the late afternoon and evening hours.
Site	September 19 Yesterday’s AQI	September 20 Today’s AQI	September 21 Predicted AQI	Likely Time of Highest Impacts Today
Yreka	Good	Good	Moderate	Afternoon/Early Evening
Fort Jones	Good	Moderate	Moderate	Afternoon/Early Evening
Etna	Good	Moderate	Moderate	Evening
Seiad Valley	Good	Moderate	Moderate	Early Afternoon
Happy Camp	Good	Moderate	Good	Early Afternoon
Somes Bar	Good	Good	Good	Late Morning
Orleans	Moderate	Good	Good	Late Morning
Wietchpec	Good	Good	Good	Afternoon
Hoopa	Good	Good	Good	Late Afternoon/Evening
Willow Creek	NA	Good	Good	Evening
Weed	Good	Good	Good	Evening
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.