11/25/16 NC Air Quality Forecast Update

The Asheville forecast is downgraded to Code Orange based on recent particulate readings. Code Orange to Code Red air quality is possible near and downwind of active fires. 

Air Quality Conditions: The highest monitored smoke concentrations this morning are in Marion, where PM2.5 has been hovering around the Orange/Red threshold. Early visible satellite shows less smoke being emitted by the fires, but also shows areas of dense fog in Mountain Valleys that is likely exacerbated by smoke. For a display of the most recent Air Quality Index (AQI) conditions throughout the day, please visit the US EPA's AIRNOW web site. Real-time air quality monitoring data is also available on the NC Division of Air Quality's real-time monitoring data web pages for Ozone and Particle Pollution. 

Morning Edition: A weak cold front is slowly pushing eastward into central North Carolina this morning, and won't reach the coast until tonight. The push of cold air will not arrive until tonight, when an upper disturbance will approach. It will be mostly sunny and warm with light winds picking up out of the west behind the front. Any fog and areas of smoke that has pooled in the Mountain Valleys should mix out by midday, and during the afternoon Code Orange smoke should mainly occur east/downwind of any wild fires. Code Red air quality is possible immediately downwind of the larger wild fires within Macon and McDowell counties.