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 Friday, July 15, 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.
Stagnant weather conditions will lead to ozone concentrations reaching the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category Friday afternoon and evening for the south and west suburbs of Denver, including the nearby foothills.
This Ozone Action Day Alert will remain in effect until at least 4 p.m. Saturday, July 16, 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 July 15, 2016, is 74 which indicates Moderate ozone air quality. It was recorded by the CHAT ambient ozone monitor. Unusually sensitive individuals may experience respiratory symptoms. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
The highest Particulate Matter (PM2.5) related AQI at 1 o’clock PM Mountain Standard Time on July 15, 2016, is 52 which indicates Moderate Particulate Matter (PM2.5) air quality. It was recorded by the LNGM ambient 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:
Friday, July 15, 2016, 2:30 PM MDT
Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive groups range on Friday and the Good to Moderate range on Saturday. Ozone concentrations in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category on Friday are most likely for the south and west suburbs of Denver, including the nearby foothills. Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion in those areas until 10 PM on Friday.
Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Friday and Saturday. Several wildfires in the state could produce moderate concentrations of fine particulate matter throughout the Front Range region. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion throughout the Front Range region on Friday and Saturday.
Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday and Saturday.
Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday and Saturday.
Visibility on Saturday is expected to be Poor during the morning then improve to Good to Moderate during the afternoon.
COLORADO SMOKE OUTLOOK:
Friday, July 15, 2016, 2:30 PM MDT
Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke
Issued for Hayden Pass Wildfire in Fremont County near Coaldale.
Issued at 9:00 AM MDT, Friday, July 15, 2016
Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Affected Area: Fremont County. Locations include, but are not limited to Cotopaxi, Coaldale, Hillside, Howard and Texas Creek.
Advisory in Effect: 9:00 AM MDT, Friday, July 15, 2016 to 9:00 AM MDT, Saturday, July 16, 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: Unhealthy levels of smoke have again been recorded Friday morning near the fire in Cotopaxi. Similar smoke concentrations are likely in Coaldale and perhaps Texas Creek. That smoke should gradually decrease as westerly winds are expected to increase at the fire during the day on Friday. However, some periods of heavier smoke can still be expected for areas in close vicinity to the east of the fire, including Coaldale, Cotopaxi, Howard and Hillside. Depending on fire activity, some smoke could also be transported further downwind to the east Friday afternoon and evening, perhaps bringing some occasional smoke to Colorado Springs, Canon City and Pueblo. There is also the possibility of a few late afternoon and evening thunderstorms near the fire, which could produce erratic winds and send smoke in any direction. Light winds are expected late Friday night and Saturday morning. This will allow smoke to drain towards the Arkansas River, once again impacting Coaldale, Cotopaxi and perhaps Texas Creek and Hillside with periods of moderate to heavy smoke.
SMOKE FROM OTHER WILDFIRES:
The 20,981 acre Beaver Creek Wildfire is located in northwestern Jackson County approximately 24 miles northwest of Walden. Northwest to southwest winds are expected at the fire on Friday. This would tend to send the smoke to locations northeast to southeast of the fire. This could impact Cowdrey and Walden at times, and perhaps far northern parts of the Front Range region depending on fire activity. The wind will calm at the fire late Friday night and drainage flow will likely pool smoke, perhaps heavy at times, to northern parts of North Park. This would include the area from the community of Cowdrey northward to the Wyoming state line.