Air Quality Forecast

September 2 – September 6: A cutoff low-pressure system will form over the next few days and influence conditions regionally. It will bring chances of rain on Thursday. Most of the precipitation will fall in the northern Bay Area with diminishing probabilities and amounts (20% and 0.02”) as the system migrates southward to the Central Coast. Regarding the Timber and Plaskett Fires in Big Sur, smoke generated will continue to be transported to the east over the Santa Lucia Mountains and into southern Monterey County. Expect GOOD to UNHEALTHY PM2.5 (smoke) AQIs, with excursions into the VERY UNHEALTHY range for communities directly downwind of the fires. Modeling indicates the low, which is facilitating onshore flow, will be present until at least early next week; therefore, expect this pattern of smoke transport to continue until then. Keep in mind, this is a cutoff low, meaning, its movements and influence on wind patterns can be very unpredictable. Temperatures will range from the mid-50s to the mid-70s at the coast and high-40s to mid-80s inland. Cooler temperatures inland indicate 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

 

Regulatory Air Monitoring Stations