KLAMATH COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION WILDFIRE SEASON DAILY UPDATE/FORECAST FOR AIR QUALITY

 

The air quality outlook for Friday, August 5, 2016, from 8 a.m. today until 8 a.m. Monday August 8, 2016, may reach “moderate to unhealthy”.  Unhealthy Air Quality means everyone can be affected.  Sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.  Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling.  Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Take more breaks during all outdoor activities.  Moderate to high levels of smoke are forecasted to come into Klamath County from Crater Lake’s Bybee Creek fire and several other fires in Oregon.  Chiloquin and Fort Klamath are expected to reach unhealthy levels Friday and Saturday. The forecasted mixing heights for Klamath County are poor in the late afternoon hours and into the early morning hours. These poor mixing heights may lead to an inversion, which could prevent the smoke from leaving areas like the Klamath Basin, Chiloquin and Fort Klamath, and may bring air quality to unhealthy levels.  The County may find some relief from the inversion during the day from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Weather conditions and smoke levels can vary dramatically during wildfires, not only from one day to the next but on an hourly basis. Smoke may also impact one portion of a community but not another.