San Francisco Bay Area Air Quality Forecast Issue Dual Cautions Dust And Smoke

San Francisco Bay Area Air Quality Forecast Issue Dual Cautions Dust And Smoke There's a Spare the Air Alert for tomorrow, Monday, Oct 28, with poor air quality forecasted in the North Bay, Coast and Central Bay, and Inland East Bay. Smoke from the Kincade Fire in Sonoma Valley arrived in the Palo Alto area this afternoon (Oct. 28).

According to two news releases from the San Joaquin Valley Air Polution Control District, potential for blowing dust as a result of gusty winds and smoke from the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County have prompted local air pollution officials to issue not one, but two health cautionary statements for the San Joaquin Valley.

It appears to be one of the few positive effects of historically heavy winds expected to hit the region Saturday evening, which prompted anticipated power shutoffs for more than 2 million people and massive evacuations amid fears that the Kincade Fire could get even worse.

Moderate air quality is forecasted for the South Central Bay and the Santa Clara Valley. The Red Flag Warning with the strong Diablo winds expires Monday morning because the winds will decrease rapidly, shifting from offshore to a slight onshore pattern.

High winds are a “mixed blessing” since they can blow away unhealthy smoke but could also kick up the fire raging in Sonoma County, said Lisa Fasano, spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Smoke from wildfires, along with dust picked up by strong winds, produce particulate matter, which can trigger asthma attacks, aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases, and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Where conditions warrant, people with heart or lung disease should follow their doctors’ advice for dealing with episodes of particulate exposure.

But as Saturday progressed, readings that had warned of unhealthy particulate levels had moved to “good” and “moderate” levels, with risks only for those with respiratory sensitivities, according to data from the air-sensor firm Purple Air as well as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

With a weak sea breeze, the smoke from the Kincade fire will be more concentrated in the North Bay and will drift southeast to the rest of the Bay Area. Limit your time outdoors, keep air conditioning on recirculate, and avoid strenuous activities especially for sensitive people with asthma.