Current Air Quality & Forecast
Air Quality Forecast
August 21 – August 25: The low-pressure system off the coast will migrate north to the PNW beginning Friday and continue in that direction through the weekend. Meanwhile, the high-pressure system over the southwest will move eastward. Lingering troughing off the central coast will generally keep things on the cooler side; however, inland areas will continue to reach high-90s as marine stratus burns off every morning. Regarding the Timber Fire, surface winds continue to be northwesterly; however, transport winds have a more southerly component. Therefore, as smoke attains altitude it will be caught up in the southerly flow of the transport winds and migrate towards Salinas, San Juan Bautista and Hollister. As of this forecast, MBARD does not expect ground level impacts as smoke appears to be exclusively in the transport winds. MBARD expects GOOD-MODERATE AQIs as long as this pattern is maintained. Temperatures will range from the mid-50s to the mid-70s at the coast and high-50s to high-90s inland. Despite warm temperatures inland, ozone production will be at normal levels; therefore, ozone AQIs will remain GOOD. 20 mph wind speeds with 30 mph gusts in the Salinas Valley could bring PM10 AQIs to MODERATE.
MBARD Smoke Sensor Network