The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council have issued an OZONE ACTION DAY ALERT at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 for the Front Range Urban Corridor from El Paso County north to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver-Boulder area, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Greeley.
A good deal of sunshine combined with favorable winds will result in ozone concentrations occasionally reaching the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category on Tuesday and Wednesday. For full details please refer to the Front Range Air Quality Forecast below.
This Ozone Action Day Alert will remain in effect until at least 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 17, 2016.
For statewide conditions, forecasts and advisories, visit:
http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx
The highest Ozone related AQI at 1 o’clock PM Mountain Standard Time on August 16, 2016, is 47 which indicates Good ozone air quality. It was recorded by the HLD ambient ozone monitor.
The highest Particulate Matter (PM2.5) related AQI at 1 o’clock PM Mountain Standard Time on August 16, 2016, is 56 which indicates Moderate Particulate Matter (PM2.5) air quality. It was recorded by the LNGMambient monitor. Respiratory symptoms possible in unusually sensitive individuals, possible aggravation of heart or lung disease in people with cardiopulmonary disease and older adults. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
Front Range Air Quality Forecast & Colorado Smoke Outlook
FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST:
Tuesday, August 16, 2016, 2:20 PM MDT
Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Tuesday and Wednesday. Ozone concentrations in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category are most likely from the southwest suburbs of Denver northward to around Ft. Collins, including the nearby foothills both Tuesday and Wednesday. Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion from 1 PM until 9 PM on Tuesday andWednesday in those areas.
Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Tuesday andWednesday. Moderate concentrations of fine particulate matter will mainly be confined to locations along and near the I-25 corridor from Denver northward to Longmont. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion in those areas on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Visibility is expected to be Moderate to Poor on Wednesday.
COLORADO SMOKE OUTLOOK:
Tuesday, August 16, 2016, 2:30 PM MDT
Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke
Issued for Hayden Pass Wildfire in Fremont County, approximately 5 miles southwest of Coaldale.
Issued at 7:30 AM MDT, Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Affected Area: western parts of Fremont County. Locations include, but are not limited to Cotopaxi, Coaldale, Hillside, Howard and Texas Creek.
Advisory in Effect: 7:30 AM MDT, Tuesday, August 16, 2016 to 9:00 AM MDT, Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Public Health Recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.
Outlook: Smoke concentrations have returned to an unhealthy level in Cotopaxi near the Hayden Pass fire. Similar smoke concentrations are likely in Coaldale. The wind will be variable direction on Tuesday with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. These showers and thunderstorms could produce gusty, erratic winds and send smoke in any direction. Light winds are expected late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. This will allow smoke to drain towards the Arkansas River, once again impacting Coaldale and Cotopaxi with periods of moderate to possibly heavy smoke. Lighter smoke will be possible in locations such as Howard, Texas Creek, Hillside and possibly into northern parts of Custer County as far south as Westcliffe.
SMOKE FROM OTHER WILDFIRES:
Areas of smoke and haze are possible across large portions of northern Colorado, including the northern half of the Front Range region. This is due to smoke being transported from wildfires in other western states. This smoke will be most noticeable during the morning hours and then will diminish during the afternoon as atmospheric mixing increases.
The 36,435 acre Beaver Creek Wildfire is located in northwestern Jackson County approximately 24 miles northwest of Walden. The wind at the fire on Tuesday will be variable in direction with showers and thunderstorms possible by the afternoon. These showers and thunderstorms could produce erratic, gusty winds and send smoke in any direction. Light winds are expected at the fire late Tuesday night and drainage flow will likely pool smoke to northern parts of North Park into Wednesday morning. This would mainly include the area to the north of the community of Cowdrey to the Wyoming state line.
The 621 acre Spring Creek 2 Wildfire is located in Garfield and Mesa Counties approximately 5 miles south of Parachute. Smoke may be visible along that stretch of Interstate 70, but fire activity is decreasing and full containment of the fire is expected in the next 24 hours.
The 335 acre Happy Hollow Wildfire located in Moffat County approximately 25 miles west of Maybell. The wind at the fire on Tuesday will generally be light and variable in direction. An isolated shower or thunderstorm is possible near the fire Tuesday afternoon. If a thunderstorm develops, it could produce erratic, gusty winds and send smoke in any direction. The wind will calm near the fire late Tuesday night andWednesday morning with smoke likely draining down to the Yampa River.
The 110 acre Lost Solar Wildfire located near the Rio Blanco/Garfield county line approximately 24 miles southwest of Meeker. The wind at the fire on Tuesday will generally be light and variable in direction. An isolated shower or thunderstorm is possible near the fire Tuesday afternoon. If a thunderstorm develops, it could produce erratic, gusty winds and send smoke in any direction. Light winds will continue at the fire late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning with smoke likely draining to the South Fork White River.
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