Wildfire smoke from California sends Las Vegas air to unhealthy levels
Unhealthy air from California wildfires has moved into the Las Vegas Valley.
The Clark County Division of Air Quality has issued a smoke alert for Saturday and Sunday due to wildfire smoke from California drifting into the valley.
Nearly all air quality monitoring stations were showing unhealthy levels for particulate matter as of Saturday morning.
“It is smoke from the Trout and Borel fires in California,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Jenn Varian. “It should start to clear out later in the morning, but Pahrump will definitely get another round and maybe the northern portions of the valley will see more.”
Pee-eww!
Las Vegas, smell something burning?The Borel & Trout fires in California have kicked off enough smoke to make it into the Las Vegas Valley. 🔥
Expect smoke to linger overnight before clearing in the morning (and potentially returning in the afternoon).#VegasWx pic.twitter.com/Ld0Vzut7gS— NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) July 27, 2024
It’s also possible wind patterns may keep the valley with smokey air much of the day, Varian said.
The typical summer ozone is also a factor.
People are advised that it is best to stay indoors to avoid the elevated particulate matter in the air.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, people who may be most sensitive to elevated levels of particulates and ozone include individuals with respiratory problems, cardiac disease, young children and senior citizens. Consult your physician if you have a medical condition that makes you sensitive to air quality conditions.
“This is our worst summer for ozone exceedances since 2021,” said Kevin MacDonald, an administrator for the Clark County Department of Environment & Sustainability. “This July alone has been our worst month for ozone since 2018, which was another bad year for wildfire smoke.
“While wildfire smoke creates particulate matter pollution, it also influences ground-level ozone formation. Couple that with other factors — stagnant weather conditions, transport of other pollutants from Southern California and homegrown ozone-forming pollutants— and you have what we’re having this month.”
Tips to limit exposure
— Stay indoors when you see or smell smoke.
— Keep windows and doors closed.
— Limit outdoor exertion on days with high levels of fine particles in the air. Exercise makes you breathe heavier and increases the amount of particulates you are likely to inhale.
— Consider changing your indoor air filters if they are dirty.
Cooler temperatures
After nearly two months of elevated record temperatures, the rest of July will see highs near normal, says the weather service.
Saturday should see a high around 106 with breezy conditions. Southwest winds of 15-21 mph may reach gusts of 31 mph.
Sunday will be a few degrees cooler with winds slightly diminished. Gusts may reach 23 mph.
The official measuring station at Harry Reid International Airport reached a high of 111 on Friday, the 29th consecutive day with a high of 110 or more. That tied the 1940 record.
No moisture is in the forecast.
Highs are expected to climb a few degrees Monday and Tuesday. Overnight lows will be around 80.
The normal temperatures may not remain long.
The forecast for Saturday calls for a high near 110, and the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting a 70 to 80 percent chance of Southern Nevada having above average temperatures in early August.
Park fire explodes
California’s largest active fire exploded in size on Friday evening, growing rapidly amid bone-dry fuel and threatening thousands of homes as firefighters scrambled to meet the danger.
The Park Fire’s intensity and rapid spread led fire officials to make unwelcome comparisons to the monstrous Camp Fire, which burned out of control in nearby Paradise in 2018, killing 85 people and torching 11,000 homes.
More than 130 structures have been destroyed by this fire so far, and thousands more remain threatened. It stood at 374 square miles (967 square kilometers) on Friday night and was moving fast after igniting Wednesday when a man pushed a burning car into a gully in Chico, authorities said, and then calmly blended in with others fleeing the scene.
“There’s a tremendous amount of fuel out there and it’s going to continue with this rapid pace,” Cal Fire incident commander Billy See said at a briefing.
Contact Marvin Clemons at mclemons@reviewjournal.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.