Winds help Las Vegas Valley air quality conditions improve
Smoke and haze from Northern California wildfires are moderating in the Las Vegas Valley sky on Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
Unhealthy air conditions on Saturday have been replaced with air quality ratings of moderate from air monitoring sites across much of the northern half of the metropolitan area to good air ratings for the southern half of the valley.
“It’s much better today than it was yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today,” weather service meteorologist Ashley Nickerson said about 2:30 p.m. Sunday. “The North Las Vegas Airport shows smoke in the sky, but none of the others do.”
The Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability had extended its alert for smoke and ozone to include Sunday.
Winds have become lighter, Nickerson said, meaning less smoke is coming into the valley from the north. She said smoke and haze was a much bigger factor in central Nevada.
Smoke is made of small dust particles and other pollutants that can aggravate respiratory diseases and contribute to ground-level ozone formation. According to the U.S. 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 or senior citizens. Such residents should limit their exposure to outdoor elements.
Exposure to ozone can induce coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath even in healthy people. A seasonal ozone advisory is in effect.
More westerly winds will replace north-northwest winds that have been pushing smoke into the valley.
The Monday forecast calls for widespread haze before noon. Conditions will be sunny and hot, with a high near 107. South southwest winds will be 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Contact Marvin Clemons at mclemons@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Marv_in_Vegas on Twitter.
to develop.
.
