11/27/16 - NC Air Quality Forecast Morning Update

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Heavy smoke with Code Orange/Red air quality is observed in Macon county. Code Orange is also likely in McDowell county. Smoke may spread north this afternoon into the greater Asheville area.

Air Quality Conditions: Smoke concentrations are Code Orange to Code Red within Macon county and in the Code Orange range in McDowell county. Satellite imagery indicated areas of smoke in McDowell county and southern Transylvania and Henderson counties. Away from the smoke, particle pollution is primarily within the Code Green range. 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: High pressure is located over the Mountains this morning, and will slide eastward throughout the day. Sunshine will dominate with light winds during the morning becoming southerly during the afternoon. Smoke from the Rock Mountain and Camp Creek fires in Macon county will drift northward and could impact portions of Swain and Jackson counties later today. Smoke from the Clear Creek fire in McDowell county may blow northward into northern Burke and Mitchell counties. These areas may be added to the list of Code Orange counties later today. Code Orange air quality is possible near and immediately downwind of other active and smoldering wild fires. Further away from the fires and outside the heavy smoke, Code Yellow air quality is forecast for the Mountains and Foothills, and Code Green air quality will prevail over the rest of the state.

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

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