Sunday, July 8, 2018 - #KlamathonFire - Siskiyou County - Air Quality Outlook

Smoke Outlook:  Klamathon Fire                                Issued for: Sunday, July 08, 2018

Air Resource Advisor: Jen Croft

Fire Activity:  Fire continues to make short range runs when wind and slopes align, with occasional isolated group tree torching.  Areas of grassy fuels are consuming quickly, and responding to suppression efforts.  Fire resources are continuing to make progress along the perimeter, utilizing roads and grassy fuel areas when possible.  Smoke:  South and southwest winds are pushing the smoke from the fire to the North and Northwest at this time.  The smoke is very visible from major highways, and will likely reduce visibility and travel speeds on all roadways in the area near the fire.  Expect small particles of ash and falling debris to accumulate on windshields and filters near Yreka and homes around the fire.  Night time cooling will cause the smoke to settle into the valleys and drainages, with minimal improvement in conditions expected through most of Sunday.  Reduced air movement will cause a limited regional haze to settle into the area, reducing sight distance.
Air Quality Outlook
Sites with air quality monitors
Site	Today 07/08		Mon 07/09	Tue 07/10	Notes for TODAY’s forecast
Grants Pass, Oregon	Good		Good	Good	Light winds provide relief today
Ashland, Oregon	Good		Good	Good	Light winds provide relief today
Medford, Oregon	Good		Good	Good	Potential for late afternoon visible smoke
Klamath Falls, Oregon	USG		Moderate	Good	Early morning and late evening pooling of smoke
Yreka, California	Unhealthy		Moderate	Moderate	Early morning and later evening pooling of smoke
Redding, California	Moderate		Good	Good	Continued haze most of the day, potential for lifting PM
Disclaimer: Conditions may change quickly. These predictions are based on anticipated weather and fire activity. AQI estimates for sites do not represent a full 24-hour time period.  Instead they reflect a period of time within the day where smoke impacts would be greatest.
AQI Index		Actions to Protect Yourself
Good		None
Moderate		Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups*- USG		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.
Unhealthy		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.
Very Unhealthy		Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Hazardous		The following groups should remain indoors and keep activity levels low: People with heart or lung disease; children and older adults. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion

*Sensitive Groups include people with heart or lung disease, children, pregnant women and older adults

Figure 1- High Resolution smoke image of the Klamathon Fire in the evening 07/07/2018.  Greatest concentration is along the Oregon/California border, with some pooling into the adjacent valleys north and south.  Expect these conditions to persist until winds increase late Monday night and transport smoke to the southeast.

Figure 2- Predicted smoke trajectories.  Red- low level smoke will disperse to the southeast first, then move north towards Klamath Falls. Blue- high level smoke in the smoke plume will catch transport winds, moving smoke northeast immediately.