The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District warned residents of the Valley to stay indoors this weekend, if possible, due to increased particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions throughout the area.
Much of the problem is due to continuing smoke from fires to the north and the SQF Fire Complex in eastern Tulare County.
Photo credit: SJVAPCD website
However, meteorological conditions are complicating everything due to winds from the northwest and a high pressure system developing over the area that reduces smoke dispersion. The high pressure acts as a "lid" over the Valley, which is shaped somewhat like a "bowl" with mountains on 3 sides. The winds transport smoke from the northern fires into the bowl, and the central and southern portions of the Valley are further impacted by the Tulare fire smoke.
The District cautions that the smoke impacts may be more noticeable during the night and early morning.
PM pollution can trigger asthma attacks, aggravate chronic bronchitis, and increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks. This can be especially problematic for the elderly and young children, as well as those with heart or lung disease. Furthermore, the cloth and paper face masks currently being used to reduce transmission of the COVID19 virus may be of little use to prevent the inhalation of wildfire smoke due to the less than 2.5 micron size of the smoke particles.
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