Air quality sensors in Fresno showing bad air again. Any rain coming to clean it?
After wet weather brought some reprieve to the central San Joaquin Valley’s notoriously bad air, community air sensors began reporting nasty conditions again this week in the Fresno area.
Community-based sensors from Purple Air showed air pollution quality Friday that the company said could have effects on people exposed for an extended time, especially those who have other respiratory conditions.
Poor air can trigger asthma attacks, aggravate chronic bronchitis, and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Those with heart or lung disease should follow their doctors’ advice for dealing with particulate matter, experts say.
Purple Air showed particularly bad readings in central and south Fresno.
The San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District said valley residents are encouraged to reduce emissions where possible, and to closely follow local air quality readings, according to said District Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer Samir Sheikh.
“Choosing not to use your wood burning fireplace or fire pit this winter is critical in our pollution reduction efforts and key to public health,” he said.
Parts of Fresno and the Valley on Friday morning showed a particulate level spiking and nearing the purple range, the worst rating on the district’s meter. When the matter reaches the purple range, officials say everyone should avoid being outdoors.
Early in October, the wildfires burning in the state had made Valley air smoky and too dangerous for extended exposure, according to the district.
Fresno and the Valley saw some wet weather last week and then a significant storm Monday, which are helpful for cleaning the air and moving pollution out of the area, according to meteorologist Jim Blagnall with the National Weather Service in Hanford.
Since then a high pressure system has left the air stagnant. “One of the causes of bad air quality here is when we get a high pressure system overhead it puts a lid on it,” he said.
Fresno-area weather forecast
Day-to-day pollution, dust and other matter continues to be pushed into the air, Blagnall said, and potentially some wildfire smoke.
The kind of weather that could help will likely miss Fresno to the north on Monday, but another low pressure system seems to be on the way about Thursday or Friday, he said.
“That might bring some rain,” Blagnall said. “Not as wet as we just had, but a little bit of rain and could stir things up better.”
Real-time air quality by ZIP code is also available at myRAAN.com.
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 9:36 AM.
