FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST:
Thursday, April 9, 2020, 2:30 PM MDT
Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Thursday, and Good to Moderate range on Friday. Moderate concentrations of ozone are most likely for locations in the Denver Metro Area on Friday. Throughout the Front Range
unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion between 2 PM and 8 PM on Friday.
Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Thursday and Friday. Moderate conditions are most likely within the Denver Metro Area, most likely confined to heavy industrialized areas and will decrease throughout the day on Friday. In these areas,
unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on Thursday and Friday.
Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Thursday and Friday.
Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Thursday and Friday.
Visibility is expected to be Good to Moderate on Friday.
COLORADO SMOKE OUTLOOK:
Thursday, April 9, 2020, 2:30 PM MDT
The 229 acre Lion wildfire is located in central Rio Blanco County, approximately 2 miles west of Meeker. Winds near the fire on Thursday will be light and variable, becoming westerly in during the afternoon hours. Overnight, light drainage winds will allow smoke to settle in low lying terrain in areas immediately below the fire. The greatest impacts from smoke are expected to remain in areas in the immediate vicinity of this fire, though light to moderate smoke concentrations remain possible in locations including, but not limited to, the Meeker area. If smoke becomes thick in your area, please refer to the public health recommendations below.
Light to moderate concentrations of smoke are also possible near small wildfires and prescribed burns around the state.
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.
