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8/11/2015 Air Quality Report for SW Oregon

Air Quality Report for Southwest Oregon                        Issued for August 11, 2015
Rogue River-Siskiyou and Umpqua National Forests        Time: 9:30

Smoke Synopsis:
Yesterday: Light to moderate concentrations of smoke moved over much of SW Oregon, and even Roseburg hit Moderate on the AQI scale. Thunderstorms did not result in major impacts to existing fires. Fire growth did occur on the National Creek, and Stouts Creek Fires with Collier Butte experiencing the largest increase of about 1,000 acres.

Today: Thunderstorms remain a possibility for the National Creek Complex. Collier Butte is expected to be the major smoke producer today impacting the valleys and coastal area S of Gold Beach.  The rest of the fire areas in SW Oregon can expect similar local drainage weather effects facilitating a lazy dispersion of smoke. As the inversion burns off, light west winds will develop in the valleys. Upper transport winds will dominant from the S/SE facilitating smoke contributions from California. Crater Lake NP is being impacted from National Creek. Check NPS webcams for status. http://www.craterlakelodges.com/webcam/

Tomorrow: Smoke levels indicate a slight improvement.
Prepared by Air Resource Advisors: Gary Curcio (gary.curcio@gmail.com)
 and Janice Peterson (
jlpeterson@fs.fed.us)

Air Quality Outlook:
Location
Yesterday
August 10
Today
August 11
Tomorrow
August 12
Comments
Cave Junction
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Grants Pass
Good
Moderate
Moderate

Klamath Falls
Moderate
Moderate
Good

Medford
Moderate
Moderate
Good

Provolt
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Shady Cove
USG
USG
USG

Eagle Point 19
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Jacksonville 215
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Ashland 216
Good
Good
Good

Tiller 23
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Stout’s Cr. Fire causing periods of dense smoke in area of Milo, Tiller, and Drew. Use caution when driving in area and Hwy 227.
Prospect
Still No Data
Moderate
Moderate
Station deployed but data glitch in transmission
Disclaimer:  Air quality predictions reflect only fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Sensitive individuals including people with asthma or heart disease, infants, children, pregnant women and older adults should take precautions to avoid exposure to smoke. If you experience health effects from smoke, contact your doctor or health professional.

AQI Category
(PM2.5 µg/m3)
Potential Health Impacts
Actions to Protect Yourself
Good (0-12)
Little or no health risk
None
Moderate (13-35)
Air quality is acceptable for most. There may be moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive people.
Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups – USG (36-55)
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects.  The general public is not likely to be affected.
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 (56-150)

Everyone may begin to experience more serious health effects.
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
(151-250)
Triggers a health alert, everyone may experience more serious health effects
Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Hazardous (>250)
The entire population is even more likely to be affected by serious health effects.
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
Learn more at:
b) Oregon DEQ Air monitoring http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx