Skip to main content

8/12/2015 Air Quality Report for SW Oregon

Air Quality Report for Southwest Oregon                     Issued for August 12,  2015
Rogue River-Siskiyou and Umpqua National Forests     Time: 10:30

Smoke Synopsis:
Yesterday: Widespread smoke impacts remained in SW Oregon but most areas did not exceed Moderate levels. Shady Cove and Tiller areas continue to be impacted by smoke from the Stouts Creek fire. Fire growth and smoke production on the Crescent portion of the National Creek Complex necessitated the closure of Highway 230 from mile marker 12-24.

Today: National Creek Complex is expected to be the major smoke producer today with contributions from Collier Butte. Valleys will be impacted at a Moderate AQI again. Wind speeds are increasing facilitating better dispersion through the day.  As the inversion burns off, moderate west winds will develop in the valleys and should push smoke out. Upper transport winds will continue to dominant from the S/SE facilitating additional smoke contributions from California fires. Crater Lake NP is being impacted from National Creek Complex. Check NPS webcams for status. http://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm

Tomorrow: Meteorology indicates potential for some improvement. Surface and upper air wind speeds will lead to much better dispersion conditions. These better smoke dispersion conditions could be offset if winds cause existing wildfires to grow faster or larger than expected; or if new fires start.
Prepared by Air Resource Advisors: Gary Curcio (gary.curcio@gmail.com)
 and Janice Peterson (
jlpeterson@fs.fed.us)

Air Quality Outlook:
Location
Yesterday
August 11th
Today
August 12th
Tomorrow
August 13th
Comments
Cave Junction
Moderate
Moderate
Good

Grants Pass
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Klamath Falls
Moderate
Moderate
Good

Medford
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Provolt
Moderate
Moderate
Good

Shady Cove
USG
USG
USG

Eagle Point 19
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Jacksonville 215
      Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Ashland 216
Moderate
Moderate
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.
Prospect 16
Unhealthy from 6pm to midnight
USG
Moderate
Prospect AQ Station is running. Crescent Fire dense smoke last night required certain Hwy sections closed for Hwy Safety.
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