LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Despite clear conditions in Lake County on Thursday, the Lake County Air Quality Management District said an expected wind shift Friday will bring periods of higher smoke into the county’s air basin.
Multiple fires including the Monument, Haypress, Dixie, the Caldor and others fires burning throughout the state are creating regional smoke impacts in Lake County and Northern California.
All areas of Lake County experienced good air quality on Friday as smoke from earlier in the week has moved out.
Calmer winds along with relatively stable air were forecast in the region overnight and into early Friday.
The National Weather Service is forecasting patchy smoke in Lake County’s air on Friday and Saturday, with conditions expected to clear Saturday night.
The Air Quality Management District said the air quality forecast for Friday and Saturday will range from “moderate” (Air Quality Index of 51 to 100) to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” (AQI of 101 to 151) with areas at higher elevations forecast to experience the most smoke impacts.
The district said current weather models indicate three-hour waves of poorer air quality throughout Friday and Saturday, with the smoke levels increasing in the overnight hours.
Most areas will improve to “moderate” or “good” conditions by Sunday night and early next week, the district reported.
The district said this forecast is based on the latest weather, monitoring, fire activity information and will be updated as necessary.
For more information on air monitoring, visit https://www.lcaqmd.net/ and click on “air monitoring” under the “quick links” section.