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Air Quality Report for Northeast Oregon and West Central Idaho - Sunday August 23, 2015

Prepared by:  Greg Johnson, Air Resource Advisor, Baker City, OR            
             
Smoke Synopsis:
Smoke from the fires in the region combined with lighter winds and less dispersion has led to poor air quality over the region.  Nearly every reporting station has had Unhealthy levels of the Air Quality Index of the past 24 hours, with some places occasionally going into the Very Unhealthy category.  Warm high pressure over the area will boost temperatures back above normal through Thursday.  Winds will start out light and mostly from the east today, slowly shifting to light southerly later today through Monday.  Dispersion will be fairly poor today and only slightly better Monday.  Smoke and associated particulate matter concentrations are likely to keep the air unhealthy in many places through Monday, especially during night and morning hours.  Some of the locations predicted to be Unhealthy today and Monday (below) could be Very Unhealthy if conditions worsen slightly. As the week progresses a southwest wind flow will develop and should begin to push smoke out of the area more consistently.  However, many valleys in NE Oregon, SE Washington and w. central Idaho will continue to be very smoky though Thursday.  Atmospheric instability also will slowly increase after today which will provide slightly better smoke dispersion but could also enhance fire activity.                                      

Air Quality Outlook:


Site
Sunday
August 23

Monday
August 24

Tuesday
August 25

Baker City
Unhealthy
USG
USG
Elgin
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Enterprise/Joseph
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Halfway
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
USG
La Grande
Unhealthy
USG
USG
Lewiston ID/Clarkston WA
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
McCall ID
Unhealthy
USG
USG
Ontario/Payette ID
USG
Moderate
Moderate
Pendleton
USG
USG
Moderate
Troy
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Vale
USG
Moderate
Moderate
Walla Walla WA
USG
USG
Moderate
Weiser ID
USG
USG
Moderate
  

AQI Index
Actions to Protect Yourself
Good
None

Moderate
Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - USG
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           
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

Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Hazardous
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
Links: Oregonsmoke.blogspot.com – Additional smoke information for the State of Oregon.
NOTE – in table above “USG” stands for “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”

Warning: These data have been obtained from automated instruments and have not been subjected to a quality assurance review to determine their accuracy. They are presented for public awareness and should not be considered final. Conditions such as power outages and equipment malfunctions can produce invalid data.




1 Since wildfires often occur in remote areas, air monitoring equipment may not be available. The following table provides a quick method to assess air quality in your area. For more detailed information you can go to the following site: http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/burning/wildfires/visibility.htm
Using the 5-3-1 Visibility Index
Distance you can see*
Your are:

You have:
·  An adult
·  A teenager
·  An older child
·  Age 65 and over
·  Pregnant
·  A young child
OR
·  Asthma
·  Respiratory illness
·  Lung or heart disease
5 miles
check visibility
minimize outdoor activity
3 miles
minimize outdoor activity
stay inside
1 mile
stay inside
stay inside
No matter how far you can see, if you feel like you are having health effects from smoke exposure, take extra care to stay inside or get to an area with better air quality.  You should also see your doctor or other health professional as needed.
* less reliable under high humidity conditions