FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST:

Saturday, September 26, 2020, 7:20 AM MDT



Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Saturday. For health recommendations, please refer to Fine Particulate Matter below.



Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Saturday. Wildfire smoke from several fires in northern and central Colorado has increased fine particulate concentrations in the northern Front Range region, including Ft. Collins and Greeley. In these areas people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion on Saturday. Elsewhere throughout the Front Range, Moderate concentrations of fine particulates are expected, and unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on Saturday. Good atmospheric mixing is expected to improve conditions during daytime hours, however elevated concentrations may return during overnight and early morning hours.



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



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



Visibility on Saturday is expected to be Poor.



COLORADO SMOKE OUTLOOK:

Saturday, September 26, 2020, 8:20 AM MDT



Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke



Issued for portions of northern Colorado

Issued at 9:00 AM MDT, Saturday, September 26, 2020



Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment



Affected Area: Routt, Jackson, and Larimer counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Steamboat Springs, Clark, Walden, Cowdrey, Red Feather Lakes, Rustic, and Wellington.



Advisory in Effect: 9:00 AM MDT, Saturday, September 26, 2020 to 9:00 AM MDT, Sunday, September 27, 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: Increased fire activity at the Middle Fork, Mullen, and Cameron Peak wildfires will result in periods of moderate to heavy smoke at times across the advisory area. Winds near these fires will come from the west throughout the day on Saturday and overnight Saturday night, transporting smoke to areas to the east of the fires’ locations. The heaviest smoke is expected for locations in areas near the fires at lower elevations, particularly during overnight and early morning hours. However, all areas downwind of these fires may be impacted by periods of moderate to heavy smoke on Saturday and Sunday. Note: Larimer and Weld Counties and other Front Range locations will be impacted by smoke from these wildfires. However, those locations are currently covered by an advisory under the regulatory Action Day program. For more information: https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx.





The 12,320 acre Williams Fork wildfire is located in southern Grand County, approximately seven miles southwest of Fraser. Winds near the fire will come from the west throughout the day on Saturday and overnight Saturday night, transporting smoke to areas to the east of the fires’ locations. Winds may be breezy to strong at times on Saturday, potentially increasing fire behavior and smoke production. The greatest impacts from smoke from this fire are expected to remain in mainly rural areas of southern Grand County near Highway 40 to the south of Winter Park.



The 100 acre Alkali Creek wildfire is located in central Eagle County, approximately three miles north of Wolcott. Winds near the fire will come from the west throughout the day on Saturday and overnight Saturday night, transporting smoke to areas to the east of the fires’ locations. Winds may be breezy to strong at times on Saturday, potentially increasing fire behavior and smoke production. The greatest impacts from smoke from this fire are expected to remain in mainly rural areas of northern Eagle County, to the north of I-70.



Wildfire smoke from both in-state and out-of-state wildfire will continue to occasionally move through areas of Colorado not included in the above advisories on Saturday, especially in northern and central parts of the state. Hazy skies and mainly light to moderate concentrations of fine particulates are anticipated at this time. Although no major health impacts are expected, unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on Saturday in northern and central parts of Colorado.





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.