Update for klamath County Residents 8-26-2013

 

 

Klamath County has recently been experiencing good to low moderate levels of air quality. It is predicted that these good to low moderate levels of air quality will continue through the first week of September. No new air quality impacts from wildfire smoke are anticipated at this time, unless there are major new ignitions or if the Government Flats Complex continues to generate significant smoke.

 

The impacts of the Government Flats Complex will likely be confined to the east of the fires and local areas of poor ventilation in close proximity to the fires. This would have no impact on the Klamath Basin.

 

Air quality conditions can change quickly, if current or forecasted air quality conditions change we will update our blog accordingly. It is important to stay informed of current air quality conditions to protect yourself and your family. http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

The Klamath Basin should see much of the same through the weekend, with low moderate Air Quality levels early in the day and peeking to high moderate levels in afternoon and evening.

Station 10118
Klamath Falls - Peterson School

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Air Quality Rating:	Good
Air Quality Index:	15
Critical Pollutant:	PM2.5
Concentration:	12.2 µg/m3
Last Report:	Aug 23 2013 7:00AM PDT
Information:	Smoke in area. Wildfire Air Quality Rating (WAQR) used for PM2.5.

The Smoke forecast is provided by the Oregon Department of Forestry

 

 

SMOKE DISPERSION FORECAST:

 

Wildfire smoke dispersion depends on the stability of the atmosphere as well as wind direction and speed. A stable atmosphere holds smoke to the ground and an unstable atmosphere allows smoke to rise and dissipate. Smoke is typically mixed to higher altitudes during the afternoon, when daytime heating destabilizes the air mass. Conversely, smoke tends to settle near the ground and in drainages during the overnight and early morning hours.

 

TODAY:

 

An upper level low is moving northward today bringing clouds, showers, and thundershowers over the region. Already, moisture has moved over the fires in the SW part of the state. Showers and thundershowers will keep developing and may bring some light rain to the Government Flats Complex later this afternoon and evening. Wind flow is rather variable now but will increase from the SW to NW later this afternoon and evening. More smoke may move into The Dalles and Dufur this afternoon before wind flow turns more NW this evening.

 

FRIDAY:

 

Upper level low will “kick out” to the east overnight and early Friday leaving the region under dry SW flow aloft. Shower and thundershower activity will decrease. Brisk westerly flow will continue over the Government Flats Complex which may impact both The Dalles and Dufur. It’s possible the smoke may stay just south of The Dalles however. Most areas in SW Oregon should stay clear of any remaining smoke from fires in that area but it’s possible some smoke may move up from California and have minor impacts at higher elevation areas like Klamath Falls and Crater Lake.

 

EXTENDED OUTLOOK:

 

An upper level trough will move in closer to the state from off the coast over the weekend and early next week bringing cooler temperatures and more clouds. East of the Cascades thunderstorms could develop again. However, under the cooler environment, more humid conditions and potential showers, fire starts are less likely. Also, fire activity from current fires should be reduced and lessen smoke impacts on downwind communities.

Weekend Forecast

 Smoke levels in Klamath are worsening largely as a result of the northern California fires. At 1PM, air quality conditions in Klamath are moderate. Smokey conditions are predicted to continue through Saturday, with improvement beginning on Sunday. 

Air quality conditions are predicted to be worse in the evenings, ranging between moderate and unhealthy levels. During the day, air quality conditions are predicted to be in moderate levels.

Stay informed of current air quality conditions by using a visibility assessment and checking the readings of our local monitor. 

Compare our Air

Ever wondered how the air quality in our city compare with other cities? What time of year has the best air quality? Has the air quality in our city improved? AirCompare provides local air quality information to help you make informed, health-protective decisions about moving or vacationing.
County Comparisons (Compare the air quality of counties within one or more states)
Summarize States (Choose up to 3 states)
Monthly Averages (Find the best time to visit)

Where is the best place in the United States to live to avoid air pollution? The best place to live may depend on whether you or your family have specific health concerns. People at greater risk from ground-level ozone are people with lung diseases, such as asthma, and children and adults who are active outdoors. At greatest risk from particle pollution are people with heart or lung disease, older adults (possibly because they may have undiagnosed heart or lung disease), and children. Learn more about how specific health concerns can affect the comparison. The links above provide health-specific air quality information in terms of the number of unhealthy days based on the Air Quality Index.

May 6, 2008 UPDATE: This site reflects the current Air Quality Index (AQI). The cut points for ozone were revised on March 12, 2008 along with the national ambient air quality standard for ozone. If you are a regular visitor to this site, you will notice the difference in the historical plots, specifically that there are more unhealthy days based on the revised ozone cut points. The current AQI does not yet account for the most recent PM2.5 standard which was revised on September 21, 2006.

Public Health Guidance for School Outdoor Activities During Wildfire Events

Check the local Air Quality Index (AQI) online at DEQ's website and do a visual inspection outside. Compare the AQI and visibility test to determine the current air conditions. Then, use the guide below to determine activity level for your kids and students.

You may get conflicting results when you compare the AQI to your visual inspection. If this happens, always err on the side of caution and follow the recommendations for the air quality level that correlates with the worse of the two assessments. 

Students with asthma action plans should follow them closely and monitor breathing and exposure to wildfire smoke. Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact a health care provider for further advice or call 911 in an emergency. 

Tuesday Morning Update

At 4AM, PM2.5 levels were 24.7 ug/m3.

Air quality conditions are Moderate.

Children, older adults, and people with heart or lung disease are most sensitive to PM2.5 at this time.

Keep informed of air quality conditions. If you don't have access to a computer or you think air quality conditions may be changing, use a visibility index. Click here to learn how.