Close the windows. Stay indoors. That’s the advice from air quality experts as the Bay Area braces for another day of heat, smog and smoke.
Unhealthy air quality blanketed much of the Bay Area Thursday as strong winds drove smoky air south from the Glass Fire and other northern California wildfires.
Air quality was rated “unhealthy” for the East Bay and North Bay, areas in close proximity to the Glass Fire. The rest of the region, stretching from San Francisco to Hayward to the Santa Clara Valley, was rated “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
That’s not expected to change: A Spare the Air alert that has persisted through the week will now remain in place into Tuesday.
In addition to smoke, elevated levels of ozone, also known as smog, prevailed throughout much of the Bay Area as temperatures skyrocketed into the high 90s Thursday, heating up exhaust from cars and trucks.
East Oakland, Concord, Livermore, Redwood City and the Santa Clara Valley reported high levels of particle pollution, further driving down air quality for residents in those areas.
The forecasted heat and high wind speeds are a dizzying combination with the potential to spark new fires and ferry smoke to lower altitudes, meteorologists said.
Now Playing:
The National Weather Service expanded its red flag warning to include the North Bay mountains, Santa Cruz Mountains, the East Bay hills and the Diablo Range mountains, where wind speeds could top out at 35 mph. The warning begins at 1 p.m. Thursday and runs through Saturday morning.
It’s the speed and direction of the wind gusts that’s creating diminished air quality, meteorologists said. Southeast-blowing winds—which are expected to prevail throughout the weekend— choke the skies with smoke-filled air and prevent clean air from moving in.
“All that smoke from northern California has nowhere to go but down to us,” said Jerry Diaz, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
Bay Area residents are advised to take precautions to protect themselves from poor air quality by staying indoors and keeping windows and doors closed as much as temperatures will allow, said Juan Romero, a spokesman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
Romero also encouraged residents to stay up-to-date on air quality metrics for their area as weather and wind patterns fluctuate.
“Keep an eye on air quality and keep the pulse of what is going on,” he said.
Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NMishanec
"close" - Google News
October 02, 2020 at 04:03AM
https://ift.tt/3jq1nW8
Close the windows. Stay inside: Spare the Air alert to last through Tuesday as wildfire smoke descends on Bay Area - San Francisco Chronicle
"close" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2QTYm3D
https://ift.tt/3d2SYUY
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Close the windows. Stay inside: Spare the Air alert to last through Tuesday as wildfire smoke descends on Bay Area - San Francisco Chronicle"
Post a Comment