9/3/15: Air Quality Report for NE Oregon and surrounding areas

Air Quality Report, Thursday  September 3, 2015
NE Oregon, SE Washington and W Central Idaho            
Prepared by:  Greg Johnson, Air Resource Advisor, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Baker City OR

Note:  This will be the last Air Quality Report for this region at this time

A cool weather system has moved into the area, lowering temperatures to below normal levels, greatly increasing relative humidities, and creating a few showers.  Some locations had as much as four tenths of an inch of rain in the past 24 hours.  This weather system will linger over the area through Sunday, with showers possible any day, but especially over Idaho sections today and over the entire area Friday afternoon through Saturday night.  Winds will be moderate today, and then become a little less Friday through Sunday.  Fire activity on both the Grizzly Bear complex and Tepee Springs fires has decreased, and the weather should favor good fire management the next 4 days.  Smoke production is less on these fires and on Canyon Creek near John Day, and thus air quality is good in nearly all locations now.  This is expected to continue, except for those valleys nearest these fires which will mainly experience some smoke in the late night and morning hours.
Air Quality Outlook:
Site		Thursday September 3	Friday September 4		Saturday September 5		Comments
Baker City		Good	Good		Good
Elgin		Good	Good		Good
Enterprise/Joseph		Good	Good		Good
Halfway		Good	Good		Good
La Grande		Good	Good		Good
Lewiston ID/Clarkston WA		Good	Good		Good
McCall ID		Good	Good		Good
Ontario/Payette ID		Good	Good		Good
Pendleton		Good	Good		Good
Riggins ID		Good	Good		Good		Still possible that Tepee Springs smoke could impact town a few hours each day
Troy		Moderate	Moderate		Moderate		If Grizzly Bear fire puts out enough smoke could be in this range; otherwise good AQ
Vale		Good	Good		Good
Walla Walla WA		Good	Good		Good
Weiser ID		Good	Good		Good
AQI Index Actions to Protect Yourself Good Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk. Moderate Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms. Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - USG Although general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, people with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air Unhealthy            Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects. Very Unhealthy   This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects. Hazardous This would trigger a health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected. Links:    Oregon Smoke Information:   http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/    AirNow:  www.airnow.gov    Idaho Smoke Information:  http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/    Washington Smoke Information:  http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
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*	You 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