Air
quality is forecast to continue to remain in the Good to Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups air quality category for the 24 hour AQI across the state today. Most recent monitor observations are currently
reading in the Good to Moderate. Areas currently being impacted are across the
Panhandle and south to the Clearwater drainages. Ambient, lofted regional smoke
is currently interspersed across southwest and southern Idaho and at times will
impact the surface levels.
Today will see an upper level ridge grow over Idaho. Surface winds will be from the southwest to
northwest at 5-10 mph. Skies will be sunny.
Mixing heights will range from 2,000-6,000
feet AGL across all of Idaho today.
Transport winds will be from the west-northwest at 5-10 mph. Temperatures will begin a warming trend today
as we enter a prolonged blocking ridge pattern through Wednesday at the
earliest.
Deterioration of air quality is expected beginning
tonight as the stable ridge pattern intensifies through the holiday weekend. Little to no improvement is expected through
Tuesday due to the persistence of the upper level ridge. Regions affected include all of central and
north Idaho, east to Salmon, and south to the Big and Little Wood
drainages. Intermittent smoke impacts
should be expected across the Upper Treasure Valley beginning today and
tomorrow with the Northern Magic Valley area experiencing impacts beginning
Saturday. On Saturday, a mid-level high pressure system will move over the
Central Idaho Mountains which will allow surface and lofted smoke to swirl
around southern Idaho within the Snake River Plain.
A westerly flow pattern will establish early Sunday
night across northern Idaho which will continue to allow regional smoke to be
transported into Idaho while a southerly mid-level flow establishes over
southern Idaho at that time. Through the
holiday weekend, expect similar conditions.
It is important to note that morning inversions will break later under
this pattern as mid-level warm air will provide a cap over much of the
state. In addition, longer nighttime
hours associated with the end of the summer season will allow for nocturnal
radiation inversions to grow stronger.
DEQ Air Quality Forecast and Cautions:
·
The DEQ Coeur d’
Alene Regional Office extended an Air Quality Forecast and Caution through
Tuesday September 5 at 12pm, for Behewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and
Shoshone counties.
·
The DEQ Lewiston
Office extended an Air Quality Forecast and Caution through Tuesday September 5
at 10am, for Latah, Nez Perce, Lewis, Clearwater, and Idaho counties,
river corridors and surrounding areas (off the Nez Perce Reservation).
Smoke forecasts are dependent on predicted fire growth and weather. If conditions change unexpectedly, impacts could occur. When visibility starts to go below 5 miles, sensitive groups should minimize outdoor activities. Everyone else should minimize prolonged or physical activity outdoors. Visit the Idaho Smoke Blog for more information at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/
Your eyes are your best tools to determine if it’s safe to be outside. Even if you smell smoke, the air quality may still be good.
AQI Category
Visibility (miles)
Good
11+
Moderate
6-10
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
3-5
Unhealthy
1½ -2¾
Very Unhealthy
1-1¼
Hazardous
Less than 1
How to estimate air quality based on visibility for areas without an air quality monitor or airport visibility estimate:
a. Face away from the sun.
AQI Category
|
Visibility (miles)
|
Good
|
11+
|
Moderate
|
6-10
|
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
|
3-5
|
Unhealthy
|
1½ -2¾
|
Very Unhealthy
|
1-1¼
|
Hazardous
|
Less than 1
|
How to estimate air quality based on visibility for areas without an air quality monitor or airport visibility estimate:
a. Face away from the sun.
b. Determine the limit of your visible range by looking for targets at known distances (miles).
c. Visible range is when an object you can easily see in the distance disappears.
d. Use the visibility values above to determine the local wildfire smoke category.
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