FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST:
Tuesday, July 17, 2018, 2:30 PM MDT
Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Tuesday, and in the Good to Moderate range on Wednesday. Ozone concentrations in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category will be most likely for the south and west suburbs of the Denver Metro area, in Greeley, and Colorado Springs on Tuesday. In these areas,
active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion until 8 PM on Tuesday. Elsewhere in the Front Range region,
unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion from noon until 10 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Tuesday, and in the Good category on Wednesday. Moderate conditions are most likely within the Denver Metro Area.
Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion in these areas on Tuesday.
Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Visibility on Wednesday is expected to be Good to Moderate.
COLORADO SMOKE OUTLOOK:
Tuesday, July 17, 2018, 2:30 PM MDT
The 6,822 acre Lake Christine wildfire is located close to Basalt in Eagle County. Areas of smoke should remain in close vicinity to the fire for much of the day on Tuesday, as winds at the fire will be out of the northwest with the possibility of areas of smoke to spread to the east and south of the fire during the afternoon and evening hours. Isolated thunderstorms are possible on Tuesday which could send smoke in any direction. Any smoke that does develop Tuesday night will likely drain into the Roaring Fork Valley, possibly bringing periods of mainly light to moderate smoke to Basalt Wednesday morning.
Light to moderate smoke is also possible near prescribed fires and small wildfires 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 above.
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.
