Data and Forecasts courtesy of:
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 Action Day
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Air Quality Index (AQI)
observed at 12:00 MST
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Health Message: None |
Note: Values above 500 are considered Beyond the AQI. Follow recommendations for the Hazardous category. Additional information on reducing exposure to extremely high levels of particle pollution is available here. |
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Good |
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Health Message: None |
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| Air Quality Index (AQI) |
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Good |
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Health Message: None |
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Forecast Discussion: Updated Wednesday, June 26, 2019 The Woodbury fire (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6382/) in the Tonto National Forest (http://www.facebook.com/TontoNationalForest/) continues to grow and has reached 123,263 acres and remains at 48% contained. According to the United States Forest Service Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program, the concern for the local area at this point is for smoke impacts. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has set up a temporary PM2.5 monitor in Blue Point and Queen Valley (https://www.phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx). Keep track of fire with the links above (InciWeb, Tonto National Forest Facebook page, ADEQ Queen Valley PM2.5 monitor) and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/TontoForest). The best chances for smoke impacts for the populated areas continues to be during the overnight and early morning hours when winds are at their lightest and from an easterly wind direction. The good news is typically during the overnight periods the fire activity is reduced due to the cooler temperatures and the increase in relative humidity. Additionally the winds switch to southwesterly to westerly directions during the midday and afternoon hours and blow the smoke away from the more densely populated areas. The early morning Hidden Valley PM10 and PM2.5 levels impacted the daily PM10 and PM2.5 averages yesterday where the PM2.5 health standard was exceeded, first time in 2019. The PM10 24-hour average at Hidden Valley yesterday is still under review due to the significantly elevated PM10 concentrations measures between 7-8 a.m. The early morning PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations at Hidden Valley today are elevated though not quite to the level of the past couple of days, mainly due to slightly stronger winds from the southeasterly direction which is helping disperse the particulates. That said, still have PM10 exceedances forecast for the next few days due to expected light winds during the early morning hours and the typically locally elevated dust generation. An upper level low pressure system over the Pacific will arrive into the Pacific Northwest during the second half of the workweek and slowly migrate eastward. For the most part that system will not directly impact the area with any weather to speak of, about the only impact for the local area will be afternoon breeziness. Some atmospheric moisture may encroach the southeastern areas of the County by Friday and may lead to some mountain storm activity Friday afternoon. At this point it doesn’t look significant outflows will materialize however have to mention it this time of year. Stay tuned. Believe it or not, remnants from a tropical system may make their way up Baja California and into the area this weekend. At this point am not to certain any precipitation will make its way into the area. However some relatively strong winds may impact the air quality on Saturday (i.e. elevated PM10). We’ll have to keep tabs on the developing situation. Outside of the aforementioned Hidden Valley and Stanfield, the particulates will be mainly in the good AQI category, though a site or two my flirt with low moderate (i.e. San Tan Valley). The PM2.5 levels at Hidden Valley are forecast to reach the upper range of the moderate AQI category mainly due to the influence from PM10. The ozone levels are forecast to be in the good to low moderate. The afternoon southwesterly breeziness will push the highest ozone concentrations which typically reach the northern portions of the County well off to the northeast and out of the County. Stay up to date with current air pollution levels by checking the near real-time PM10, PM2.5 and ozone levels online at http://www.pinalcountyaz.gov/AirQuality/Pages/AirQualityReport.aspx. Forecaster: S. DiBiase |
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AQI: Good (0 - 50)
AQI: Moderate (51 - 100)
AQI: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101 - 150) 
AQI: Unhealthy (151 - 200) 
AQI: Very Unhealthy (201 - 300)
AQI: Hazardous (301 - 500)
National Parks/Monuments
Tribal Boundaries
