Red Flag Warning and Air Quality Alert October 2, 2020

Red Flag Warning

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
402 AM MDT Fri Oct 2 2020

COZ211>215-217-218-022200-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0027.201002T1800Z-201003T0200Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-
South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above 9000 Feet-
Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet-
Central and Southeast Park County-
Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet-
West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-
South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet-
402 AM MDT Fri Oct 2 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE NORTHERN COLORADO MOUNTAINS...VALLEYS...AND FOOTHILLS NORTH OF I-70...

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, which is in effect from noon today to 8 PM MDT this evening.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 217 and 218.

* Timing...Winds over the ridges and higher foothills will decrease a little this morning, then increase again this afternoon and spread to the valleys. Humidities will remain low over ridges and slopes, and drier air will mix into the valleys by midday. Both winds and humidities will improve by mid evening.

* Winds...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with frequent gusts to 25 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph over ridges and wind prone higher foothills areas.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 11 percent.

* Impacts...Fire behavior will increase today, and any new fires will spread quickly.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Special Air Quality Statement
Action Day for Fine Particulates in effect for the Front Range region.

Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke in effect for multiple counties across northern and central Colorado.

Click here for details.

Front Range Action Day for Particulates Until at least 4 p.m. 10/02/2020

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued an ACTION DAY ALERT at 4PM on Thursday, October 1, 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.

Although fine particulate concentrations have decreased significantly across much of the Front Range region, areas of moderate to heavy smoke continue for locations in central and western Larimer County near the Cameron Peak wildfire. Additionally, the Cameron Peak and Mullen wildfires will likely intensify Friday afternoon and increase smoke again across other parts of the Front Range region on Friday, including the Fort Collins, Longmont, Boulder, and Denver Metro areas. Be prepared for sudden changes in air quality and please take action by reducing physical activity and spending time indoors as necessary.

This Particulates Action Day Alert will remain in effect until at least 4 p.m. Friday, October 2, 2020.

For statewide conditions, forecasts and advisories, visit:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

At 7AM (MST), Friday, 10/2/2020 the highest AQI value was 56 for Particulate less than 2.5 micrometers which indicates Moderate air quality. 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.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council's Summer 2020 Ozone Action Day Alert Program has concluded. The winter High Pollution Advisory Program begins on November 1. Air Quality Action Days or advisories for ozone for other pollutants, however, will be issued as needed at any time during the year and reported on this web page.

The Air Pollution Control Division's Winter 2020/2021 High Pollution Advisory Program will begin November 1. Thank you for your interest in and support for efforts to improve air quality for the citizens of the Denver- metro area.

Front Range Air Quality Forecast & Colorado Smoke Outlook

FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST:
Friday, October 2, 2020, 7:15 AM MDT

Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday.

Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Friday. Although fine particulate concentrations have decreased significantly across much of the Front Range region, areas of moderate to heavy smoke will continue for locations in central and western Larimer County near the Cameron Peak wildfire. Additionally, the Cameron Peak and Mullen wildfires will likely intensify Friday afternoon and increase smoke concentrations across parts of the Front Range region including Fort Collins, Longmont, and the Denver Metro area.

For locations near the Cameron Peak wildfire in Larimer County including Fort Collins, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion on Friday. For all other areas, unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on Friday, and be prepared to take further action in the event smoke increases quickly in your area.

Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday.

Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday.

Visibility in Denver on Friday is expected to be Moderate to Poor.

COLORADO SMOKE OUTLOOK:
Friday, October 2, 2020, 8:00 AM MDT

Although fine particulate concentrations have decreased significantly across much of the Front Range region on Friday, areas of moderate to heavy smoke continue for locations in central and western Larimer County near the Cameron Peak wildfire. Additionally, the Cameron Peak and Mullen wildfires will likely intensify Friday afternoon and increase smoke again across other parts of the Front Range region Friday evening through Saturday morning, including the Fort Collins, Longmont, Boulder, and Denver Metro areas. The entire Front Range region, including Denver, Boulder, Longmont, Ft. Collins and Greeley remains under an Action Day for Fine Particulates until at least 4 pm Friday. For more information, please see www.colorado.gov/airquality/advisory.aspx

Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke

Issued for Grand, Clear Creek, and Gilpin counties
Issued at 9:00 AM MDT, Friday, October 2, 2020

Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Affected Area: Grand, Clear Creek, and Gilpin counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Parshall, Georgetown, Empire, Idaho Springs, Central City, and Blackhawk.

Advisory in Effect: 9:00 AM MDT, Friday, October 2, 2020 to 9:00 AM MDT, Saturday, October 3, 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 near the Williams Fork wildfire located in Grand County. Smoke will gradually decrease Friday morning as atmospheric mixing increases. By Friday afternoon the wind at the fire will be out of a northwesterly direction, and may be breezy to moderate at times. This will send smoke to the southeast, possibly impacting areas including Georgetown, Empire, and Idaho Springs. By late Friday evening the wind will decrease and smoke will begin to drain into lower lying areas surrounding the fire. This will bring the possibility for heavy smoke through early Saturday morning to locations along Ute Pass Road and possibly into the Parshall area, along with valley locations southeast of the fire in Clear Creek and Gilpin counties.

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)