The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council have issued an
ACTION DAY ALERT at 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 16, 2020 for the Front Range Urban Corridor from Douglas County north to Larimer and Weld counties,
including the Denver-Boulder area, Fort Collins and Greeley.
Due to wildfire smoke transported into the Front Range, Ozone and Fine Particulate concentrations could both reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category at times through at least Monday afternoon across the Colorado Front Range region. The greatest air quality impacts are expected to be for locations within the Denver Metro area, as well as northward along the I-25 corridor to Fort Collins, including areas west of I-25 within the foothills, especially in Larimer County due to smoke from the Cameron Peak wildfire.
This Multiple Pollutants Action Day Alert will remain in effect until at least 4 p.m. Monday, August 17, 2020.
For statewide conditions, forecasts and advisories, visit:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx
The highest Ozone related AQI at 8 o'clock AM Mountain Standard Time on August 17, 2020, is 44 which indicates Good ozone air quality. It was recorded by the BHWK ambient ozone monitor.
The highest Particulate Matter (PM2.5) related AQI at 8 o'clock AM Mountain Standard Time on August 17, 2020, is 71 which indicates Moderate Particulate Matter (PM2.5) air quality. It was recorded by the FTCF 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:
Monday, August 17, 2020, 7:00 AM MDT
Due to wildfire smoke transported into the Front Range, Ozone and Fine Particulate concentrations could both reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category at times through at least Monday afternoon. The greatest air quality impacts are expected to be for locations within the Denver Metro area, as well as northward along the I-25 corridor to Fort Collins, including areas west of I-25 within the lower foothills, especially in Larimer County due to smoke from the Cameron Peak wildfire. In all these areas, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion on Monday. For all other areas within the Front Range, unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on Monday.
Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Monday. See above for health recommendations.
Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Monday. See above for health recommendations.
Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Monday.
Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Monday.
Visibility on Monday is expected to be Moderate to Poor.
COLORADO SMOKE OUTLOOK:
Monday, August 17, 2020, 8:30 AM MDT
Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke
Issued for portions of central and western Colorado
Issued at 9:00 AM MDT, Monday, August 17, 2020
Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Affected Area: Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Eagle, Pitkin, Lake, Gunnison, and central and eastern Garfield counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Fruita, Grand Junction, Palisade, De Beque, Delta, Montrose, Eagle, Avon, Vail, Aspen, Leadville, Crested Butte, Gunnison, Parachute, Rifle, Glenwood Springs, and Carbondale.
Advisory in Effect: 9:00 AM MDT, Monday, August 17, 2020 to 9:00 AM MDT, Tuesday, August 17, 2020.
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: Areas of moderate to heavy smoke have been observed Monday morning across portions of central and western Colorado due to the Pine Gulch and Grizzly Creek wildfires. Smoke will gradually diminish Monday morning as atmospheric mixing increases, with the slowest improvement occurring in valley locations. By Monday afternoon the wind at the fires will initially be out of a westerly direction, but will shift clockwise to the northeast by Monday evening. This could bring periods of moderate to heavy smoke for areas to the east, southeast, south and southwest of both wildfires. By late Monday evening smoke will begin to drain into lower lying areas surrounding both fires. This will bring longer duration, heavy smoke through early Tuesday morning to several drainages near the Pine Gulch wildfire including into the De Beque and Grand Junction areas. Meanwhile, heavy overnight smoke from the Grizzly Creek wildfire will continue to impact locations along Interstate 70 in central and eastern Garfield County.
Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke
Issued for portions of northern and central Colorado
Issued at 9:00 AM MDT, Monday, August 17, 2020
Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Affected Area: Jackson, Grand,
Summit, Park, Clear Creek, Gilpin and Park Counties.
Locations include, but are not limited to Rand, Kremmling, Granby,
Winter Park, Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Georgetown, Central City, and Fairplay.
Advisory in Effect: 9:00 AM MDT, Monday, August 17, 2020 to 9:00 AM MDT, Tuesday, August 18, 2020.
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: Areas of moderate to heavy smoke have been observed across portions of northern and central Colorado due to the Cameron Peak and Williams Fork wildfires. Smoke will gradually diminish late Monday morning as atmospheric mixing increases, with the slowest improvement occurring in valley locations. By Monday afternoon the wind at the fires will initially be variable in direction, but will eventually shift to the north. This could bring periods of moderate to heavy smoke for areas to the south of both wildfires through Monday evening. By late Monday evening smoke will begin to drain into lower lying areas surrounding both fires. This will bring longer duration, heavy smoke through early Tuesday morning to drainages near the Cameron Peak wildfire including Poudre Canyon Road and Joe Wright Creek. Meanwhile, heavy overnight smoke from the Williams Fork wildfire will impact locations along Grand County Road 3 and Poudre Canyon Road.
Light to moderate concentrations of smoke are also possible near small wildfires and prescribed burns around the state.
What if there is a wildfire or smoke in your area?
The focus of the Colorado Smoke Outlook is on large fires (e.g., greater than 100 acres in size). Nevertheless, smoke from smaller fires, prescribed fires, and/or smoke from new fires not yet known to CDPHE air quality meteorologists may cause locally heavy smoke. If there is smoke in your neighborhood, see the public health recommendations below.
Public health recommendations for areas affected by smoke:
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.
Summer Ozone Program
Ground-level ozone is an air pollution problem that impacts the health of all Coloradans. Exposure can cause acute respiratory problems and trigger asthma attacks. During Ozone Action Alerts, avoid rigorous outdoor activity during the heat of the day. Prolonged exposure can cause long-lasting damage to your lungs.
You CAN make a difference by doing your part to improve air quality along Denver's Front Range. Combining or skipping just two car trips a week has a positive impact on our air quality. Find other easy solutions that fit your lifestyle from Simple Steps. Better Air. (
www.SimpleStepsBetterAir.org
), a program of the Regional Air Quality Council.
WHAT IS AN ACTION DAY?: An Action Day for fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone or other pollutants indicates that either current air quality is unhealthy or conditions are expected to worsen later in the day or on the next day. Action Days for air pollutants generally indicate that air quality will be in either the Unhealthy or Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups categories according to the Air Quality Index. Action Days always convey overarching public health recommendations, and, according to season, trigger a variety of mandatory and voluntary pollution prevention measures. For example, during the summer open burning is prohibited when an Action Day for ozone and/or fine particulates is in effect. During the winter, residential burning restrictions are in effect when an Action Day for Visibility is in effect.
For a detailed description of both the AIR QUALITY INDEX and the VISIBILITY STANDARD INDEX please visit
www.colorado.gov/airquality/brochure.aspx
COLORADO OPEN BURN FORECAST: For those with permits for open burning, that is the burning of waste materials or vegetation outside, check the following webpage to find out if open burning is allowed today. Keep in mind that open burning is prohibited when an Action Day is in effect:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/burn_forecast.aspx
FOR CURRENT FRONT RANGE ACTION DAYS/ADVISORIES:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/advisory.aspx
FOR CURRENT AIR QUALITY CONDITIONS STATEWIDE:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/air_quality.aspx
SOCIAL MEDIA:
www.facebook.com/cdphe.apcd
twitter.com/cdpheapcd
AIR QUALITY NOTIFICATIONS:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/request_alerts.aspx
(CDPHE automated e-mail alerts)
www.enviroflash.info/signup.cfm
(CDPHE forecasts via automated e-mails from the EPA)
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From AirNow.gov:
Fire and Smoke Map, Air Quality Map for August 17, 2020