11/26/16 - Air Quality Summary Report - 10:00am Update

For a downloadable, printable version of this report, click here.

Monitoring:  Portable PM2.5 monitors are currently placed in Robbinsville, Andrews, Franklin, Sylva, Hendersonville, and Marion. Permanent monitors are located in Bryson City, Spruce Pine and Asheville.

Yesterday: Midday, Marion experienced several hourly air quality values classified as Moderate (AQI Code Yellow) and Hendersonville also saw Moderate levels briefly. Andrews, Franklin, Bryson City, Spruce Pine, Robbinsville, Asheville and Waynesville/Sylva saw Good levels of air quality yesterday.   

Today: As of early this morning, all monitors are showing hourly air quality values classified as Good (AQI Code Green) in Western North Carolina. With the expected winds and fire behavior today, Brevard, Marion, and especially West Marion may see hourly air quality values classified as USG (AQI Code Orange). Hendersonville could see smoke levels in the Mod level today and tonight from the Pinnacle Fire. All other areas of WNC are expected to see Good air quality today.

Tomorrow:  Robbinsville is expected to see air quality in the USG range through the evening. All other counties in Western NC could see some drifting smoke from the late afternoon throughout evening. However, residual smoldering is likely to occur, affecting areas with an AQI Code of Yellow or Orange immediately downwind of ongoing fires.

North Carolina Division of Air Quality (DAQ) Air Quality Forecast:  NC DAQ issues an air quality forecast for the entire state each day. Their forecast is for broad geographical areas and is complementary to our more community-specific focus which looks at localized short-term impacts due to the wildfires. To the right is the NC DAQ forecast map for today. Note that DAQ may update its forecast throughout the day at https://xapps.ncdenr.org/aq/ForecastCenter. 

For more information about North Carolina air quality updates: https://xapps.ncdenr.org/aq/ForecastCenter

For more information about National Forests in North Carolina:

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