FINAL UPDATE: TUESDAY, SEPT. 19 ... Rain over the past few days throughout southern Oregon and northern California has dampened the wildfires and cleared the air, so much so that, as of this morning, the Air Quality Index readings in the JPR listening area are all in the "GOOD" range, except for two locations near the Oregon coast. And those readings (in Gold Beach and Agness) are "MODERATE."
The fires aren't done yet, and dryer, warmer weather later this week means some locations near ongoing fires could yet have air temporary air quality issues. But we're going to consider this the final air quality update for 2017, barring an unexpected worsening.
UPDATE: FRIDAY: SEPT. 15 ... The trend toward slow improvement in air quality around the JPR listening area is expected to continue through the weekend. Some places around the region have slightly better Air Quality Index readings this morning, some have slightly worse. But nearly everybody is breathing cleaner air than they were this time last week, with readings in the "MODERATE" or "GOOD" ranges.
Today's only hot spot in Oregon is Brookings, which registered in the "UNHEALTHY" range, while Seiad Valley continues to be the only "UNHEALTHY" location in our area of northern California. Both, of course, are right near large and active fires.
But continued cooler, moister weather conditions are expected to allow firefighters to keep making progress on all the fires in the region over the next few days, which should translate into continued air quality improvement.
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Thursday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Roseburg, Medford, Cave Junction, Crater Lake, Cottage Grove, Gold Beach
MODERATE: Eugene, Springfield, Ashland, Grants Pass, Klamath falls, Bend, Chiloquin, Agness, Provolt
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Shady Cove
UNHEALTHY: Brookings
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Yreka, Weed, Fort Jones, Callahan, Hoopa, Weitchpec, Hayfork, Scotia, Willow Creek
MODERATE: Eureka, Mt. Shasta, Etna, Orleans, Weaverville, Anderson
UNHEALTHY: Seiad Valley
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: THURSDAY, SEPT. 14 ... The weather is turning autumnal and the region's wildfires are dampening. And that's keeping the air relatively breathable, with most places in the JPR listening area registering "MODERATE" or even "GOOD" Air Quality Index readings.
Southern Oregon's only hotspot of "UNHEALTHY" air is at Crater Lake, while Seiad Valley is now the sole "UNHEALTHY" spot in our area of northern California.
With the cooling trend expected to stick around for a while -- and with rain forecast for next week -- we can be forgiven if we dare to hope our smoky air problems will soon be a bad memory of the Summer of 2017.
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Thursday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Roseburg, Glide, Medford, Ashland, Shady Cove, Klamath Falls, Brookings
MODERATE: Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Provolt, Bend, Lakeview
UNHEALTHY: Crater Lake
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Weed, Anderson, Red Bluff, Hayfork, Garberville, Hoopa
MODERATE: Yreka, Mt. Shasta, Callahan, Etna, Sawyers Bar, Weitchepec, Fort Jones
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Weaverville, Orleans
UNHEALTHY: Seiad Valley
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 13 ... Fires around the region continue to wind down, leaving AQI readings far from ideal, but in most places, better than we've been experiencing in recent weeks. Folks in southern Oregon are breathing more easily than their northern California neighbors, for the most part, with Chiloquin being the only spot in our part of the Beaver State with "UNHEALTHY" AQI readings this morning.
Weather folks say the trend toward cooler temps and higher humidity will continue, and they say we can even expect some rain by early next week.
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Wednesday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Oakridge, Roseburg, Glide
MODERATE: Medford, Grants Pass, Ashland, Klamath Falls, Cave Junction, Bend
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Brookings
UNHEALTHY: Chiloquin
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Tulelake, Mt. Shasta, Red Bluff, Garberville
MODERATE: Weed, Anderson, Arcata, Hayfork, Willow Creek, Hoopa, Happy Camp
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Yreka, Fort Jones, Orleans, Callahan
UNHEALTHY: Weaverville, Weitchepec, Etna,
HAZARDOUS: Seiad Valley
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: TUESDAY, SEPT. 12 ... Yesterday's hotter, dryer weather stimulated fire activity, which meant more smoke in the air throughout the region. In fact, there were no "GOOD" AQI readings in the Oregon side of JPR's listening area this morning (though there were a few in northern California). On the other hand, there were hardly any areas with "UNHEALTHY" AQI readings.
In either case, weather forecasters are calling for a cooling trend with the possibility of rain later this week, so this decline in air quality may be temporary.
Fingers crossed!
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Tuesday morning ...
OREGON:
MODERATE: Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Roseburg, Glide, Bend, Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Medford, Ashland, Klamath Fall, Provolt, Chiloquin
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Shady Cove
UNHEALTHY: Brookings, Agness
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Yreka, Fort Jones, Weed, Callahan, Hayfork
MODERATE: Happy Camp, Mt. Shasta, Tulelake, Weitchepec, Willow Creek, Etna, Orleans, Weaverville, Anderson
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Sawyers Bar, Hoopa
UNHEALTHY: SEIAD VALLEY
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: MONDAY, SEPT. 11 ... The cooler, wetter weather has continued to dampen the region's wildfires, maintaining the relatively clean air nearly everybody in the JPR listening area has been enjoying over the weekend. In fact, the only folks in the region who haven't been breathing markedly better air are the poor folks in Seiad Valley, California, who've been dealing with air so bad it's off the AQI chart (>500 AQI).
With just a few exceptions, all the readings in southern Oregon and far-northern California are MODERATE or GOOD.
But before you get too excited, bear in mind that weather forecasters are saying warmer weather today may kick new life into regional wildfires, increasing smoke production.
We're not out of this just yet ...
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Monday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Eugene, Springfield, Bend, Cottage Grove, Roseburg, Glide, Chiloqion, Klamath Falls, Lakeview
MODERATE: Medford, Grants Pass, Ashland, Provolt, Cave Junction
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Shady Cove, Brookings
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Hayfork, Hoopa, Tulelake
MODERATE: Yreka, Wed, Mt. Shasta, Etna, Callahan, Arcata, Willow Creek, Anderson, Red Bluff
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Happy Camp
UNHEALTHY: Smith River, Weaverville
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: FRIDAY, SEPT. 8 ... Rain storms Thursday and overnight Friday morning dampened fires and cleared the air, improving AQI readings around the region. Even places among the hardest hit by wildfire smoke, such as Happy Camp and Fort Jones in northern California, saw their readings improve from HAZARDOUS to MODERATE overnight. For the first time in two weeks, there are no VERY UNHEALTHY or HAZARDOUS AQI readings anywhere in the JPR listening area.
Weather forecasters are calling for continued lower temperatures and higher relative humidity with some possibility of rain showers over the next few days. Still, as long as the fires continue to burn, the current letup in smoky air is likely to be more of a temporary window than a permanent improvement.
Enjoy it while it lasts ...
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Friday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Oakridge
MODERATE: Roseburg, Glide, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Cave Junction,
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Medford, Brookings, Provolt, Crater Lake, Chiloquin, Shady Cove
UNHEALTHY: Ashland, Bend
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Weed, Willow Creek, Hoopa, Orleans, Etna, Hayfork, Garberville, Tulelake
MODERATE: Callahan, McCloud, Mt. Shasta, Arcata, Anderson, Red Bluff, Happy Camp, Seiad Valley
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Yreka, Weaverville
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: THURSDAY, SEPT. 7 ... Wetting thunderstorms passed through northern California this morning and are expected to move north into Oregon. This could bring some relief from the heavy smoke that's blanketed the region for more than two weeks. How much -- and exactly where -- is the question.
Medford is registering the worst air quality on the Oregon side of the JPR listening area this morning, while Happy Camp and Seiad Valley have that dubious honor in California. In response, the Humboldt County Health Department has set up where people can go during the day to breath filtered, conditioned air.
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Thursday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Crater Lake
MODERATE: Klamath Falls, Lakeview
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Eugene, Springfield, Chiloquin
UNHEALTHY: Cave Junction, Shady Grove, Bend, Glide, Cottage Grove, Oakridge
VERY UNHEALTHY: Ashland, Grants Pass
HAZARDOUS: Medford
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Arcata, Callahan, Hoopa, Hayfork, Red Bluff
MODERATE: Gasquet, Weed, Mt. Shasta, Anderson, Willow Creek, Weaverville, Garberville
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Orleans, Sawyers Bar
UNHEALTHY: Yreka, Fort Jones, Etna
HAZARDOUS: Happy Camp, Seiad Valley
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6 ... Slight relief for some in northern California, but nobody's breathing easy much of anywhere around the region. Arcata (and Orleans of all places) are the only air sampling locations that register "GOOD" AQI readings this morning.
Weather forecasters say rain may be coming mid-week, which could help dampen the fires and reduce the smoke. It may also bring lightning, which could ignite dozens of new fires.
Fingers crossed ...
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Wednesday morning ...
OREGON:
MODERATE: Roseburg, Lakeview
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Eugene, Bend, Klamath Falls
UNHEALTHY: Glide, Shady Cove, Cave Junction, Brookings
VERY UNHEALTHY: Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass, Provolt
HAZARDOUS: Crater Lake, Chiloquin
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Arcata, Orleans
MODERATE: Weed, Mt. Shasta, Callahan, Willow Creek, Hoopa, Gasquet, Anderson, Tulelake
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Weaverville, Klamath
UNHEALTHY: Yreka, Fort Jones, Etna
HAZARDOUS: Happy Camp, Seiad Valley
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: TUESDAY, SEPT. 5 ... Hot, dry weather continues to fan the region's wildfires, making it hard to breathe across southern Oregon and northern California. From Eugene to Garberville, not a single air monitoring station reported "GOOD" quality air.
And so far, there's little reason to expect relief anytime soon.
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Tuesday morning ...
OREGON:
MODERATE: Roseburg, Crater Lake, Lakeview, Bend
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Klamath Falls, Chiloquin, Shady Cove
UNHEALTHY: Eugene, Cottage Grove, Cave Junction, Provolt, Ashland
VERY UNHEALTHY: Grants Pass, Medford, Glide, Oakridge
CALIFORNIA:
MODERATE: Anderson, Red Bluff
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Tulelake
UNHEALTHY: Mt. Shasta, Callahan, Gasquet, Klamath, Hoopa, Weitchpec, Arcata
VERY UNHEALTHY: Orleans, Willow Creek
HAZARDOUS: Yreka, Seiad Valley, Happy Camp, Fort Jones, Weed, Sawyers Bar, Etna
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: FRIDAY, SEPT. 1 ... Hotter, drier weather is fanning the Northwest's wildfires, worsening air quality throughout the region. For the most part, only the Willamette Valley is escaping the heavy smoke that's registering "Unhealthy" readings as far south as Sacramento.
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Friday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Roseburg
MODERATE: Glide
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Provolt, Crater Lake, Gold Beach
UNHEALTHY: Medford, Ashland, Klamath Falls, Shady Cove
HAZARDOUS: Brookings
CALIFORNIA:
MODERATE: Arcata
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Fort Jones, Mt. Shasta, Callahan, Tulelake
UNHEALTHY: Yreka, Weed, Anderson. Red Bluff, Willow Creek, Hoopa
HAZARDOUS: Happy Camp, Seiad Valley, Klamath, Orleans, Weitchpec, Sawyers Bar
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: THURSDAY, AUG. 31 ... Rogue Valley residents -- as well as those along the I-5 corridor in northern California -- got a breather from their "Unhealthy"-rated air quality overnight. But the forecast higher temperatures are expected to lead to a return of heavy smoke later today.
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Thursday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Roseburg, Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Glide
MODERATE: Medford, Ashland, Crater Lake, Gold Beach
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Grants Pass, Shady Cove
UNHEALTHY: Klamath Falls, Cave Junction, Bend, Provolt, Brookings, Chiloquin, Lakeview
HAZARDOUS: Prospect
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Arcata
MODERATE: Yreka, Weed, Willow Creek, Hoopa
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Orleans, Gasquet, Tulelake
UNHEALTHY: Fort Jones, Etna, Callahan
HAZARDOUS: Happy Camp, Seiad Valley
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, AUG. 30 ... Folks along the west side of the Cascades, from Roseburg north, are getting some relief from heavy smoke pollution this morning. But for much of the rest of the region, "Unhealthy" Air Quality Index readings remain the norm.
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Wednesday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Roseburg, Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Agness
MODERATE: Cave Junction, Lakeview
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Shady Cove, Provolt, Oakridge
UNHEALTHY: Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Brookings, Bend
HAZARDOUS: Crater Lake
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Arcata, WillowCreek, Hoopa, Orleans
MODERATE: Anderson
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Gasquet
UNHEALTHY: Yreka, Weed, Fort Jones, Callahan, Etna, Sawyers Bar, Happy Camp, Tulelake
HAZARDOUS: Seiad Valley
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: TUESDAY, AUG. 29 ... Most residents of southern Oregon and northern California continue to deal with air quality readings in the Unhealthy range, as hot, dry weather conditions persist and the region's many wildfires get more active.
The Rogue Valley may see some relief tomorrow, but it will likely be short-lived considering the hot temperatures in the forecast and the number of fires sending smoke into the Rogue.
Remember, air quality conditions change rapidly and forecasts can too depending on wildfire growth or changing weather. Before you head out, check air quality conditions on this blog and forecasts for specific wildfires near your area.
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Tuesday morning ...
OREGON:
MODERATE: Cave Junction, Brookings, Provolt, Lakeview, Agness
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Cottage Grove
UNHEALTHY: Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Roseburg, Eugene, Springfield, Bend, Oakridge, Shady Cove
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Arcata, Hoopa, Anderson
MODERATE: Willow Creek, Weitchpec
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Fort Jones, Tulelake
UNHEALTHY: Yreka, Weed, Callahan, Etna, Happy Camp
HAZARDOUS: Seiad Valley, Sawyers Bar
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: MONDAY, AUG. 28 ... Growing fires -- fueled by hotter, dryer weather -- have led to deteriorating air quality through much of the region. Many communities have air readings in the Unhealthy range.
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Monday morning ...
OREGON:
MODERATE: Cave Junction
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Lakeview
UNHEALTHY: Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass, Provolt, Roseburg, Klamath Falls, Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Glide, Oakridge, Chiloquin, Agness.
HAZARDOUS: Prospect
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Willow Creek
MODERATE: Hoopa, Anderson
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Orleans, Weed
UNHEALTHY: Yreka, Callahan, Weitchpec, Fort Jones, Etna, Tulelake
HAZARDOUS: Seiad Valley, Happy Camp
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE, FRIDAY, AUG. 25 ... For a second day, folks in the Rogue Valley continue to get some relief from wildfire smoke, but some communities near northern California wildfires face worsening air quality.
Here are some representative Air Quality Index readings from around the region, as of Friday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Roseburg, Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Prevolt, Medford, Agness.
MODERATE: Ashland, Shady Cove, Lakeview
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Brookings, Chiloquin
UNHEALTHY: Klamath Falls, Prospect
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Arcata
MODERATE: Orleans, Weitchpec, Hoopa, Willow Creek
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Weed, Anderson
UNHEALTHY: Yreka, Seiad Valley, Happy Camp, Sawyers Bar
HAZARDOUS: Fort Jones, Etna, Callahan
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: THURSDAY, AUG. 24 ... Fires continue to burn around the region, making air quality a major topic of water cooler discussion. Local weather conditions have brought partial relief to some communities, but not so much for others.
Yreka has the worst Air Quality Index readings in the JPR listening area this morning, registering Hazardous. Other northern California communities getting smoke from fire complexes in the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests -- from Orleans to Happy Camp to Weed -- are suffering with Unhealthy AQI readings.
But some places in the Rogue Valley -- Medford, Grants Pass and Ashland in particular -- have seen improvement from yesterday.
Here are some representative readings from around the region as of Thursday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Eugene, Springfield, Oakridge, Cottage Grove and Roseburg
MODERATE: Grants Pass, Shady Cove, Medford, Brookings, Lakeview
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Ashland
UNHEALTHY: Cave Junction, Klamath Falls, Provolt, Prosspect, Chiloquin, Bend
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Arcata, Hoopa, Weitchpec
MODERATE: Willow Creek
UNHEALTHY: Happy Camp, Fort Jones, Etna, Sawyers Bar, Orleans, Callahan, Weed, Tulelake
HAZARDOUS: Yreka
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, AUG. 23 ... With multiple wildfires burning in pretty much every part of southern Oregon and northern California, few in the region are breathing healthy air this week. The Rogue and Illinois Valleys, as well as Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests, are seeing significant levels of smoke pollution, leading health authorities to urge people to stay indoors as much as possible.
This morning, Selad Valley in the Klamath National Forest and Sawyers Bar in Six Rivers NF both have Air Quality Index readings in the Hazardous range. Happy Camp -- located near the Eclipse Complex fires -- hasn't reported readings for the second day running.
Prospect, near the High Cascade Complex fires near Crater Lake, has improved from yesterday, from Hazardous to Unhealthy.
Here are some representative reading from around the region as of Wednesday morning ...
OREGON:
GOOD: Roseburg
MODERATE: Klamath Falls, Chiloquin
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Shady Cove
UNHEALTHY: Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Provolt, Prospect, Agness
NO READING: Brookings
CALIFORNIA:
GOOD: Arcata
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS: Fort Jones, Willow Creek, Hoopa, Orleans, Etna, Weed
UNHEALTHY: Weitchpec, Yreka
HAZARDOUS: Seiad Valley, Sawyers bar
Here's a guide to how to protect yourself under the various AIQ conditions ...
For more information about air quality issues in the region, click for Oregon and for California.
ORIGINAL POST: TUESDAY, AUG. 22 ... The growth of wildfires across southern Oregon and northern California over the past week has led to deteriorating air quality across the region.
As of Tuesday morning, Sawyers Bar registered the worst air quality readings on the California side, while Prospect, near the ongoing High Cascades Complex fires -- had that dubious distinction in Oregon.
Some areas near major fires, such as Happy Camp, likely have compromised air quality but have not registered readings today.
Here are some representative readings as of 8:00 this morning ...
OREGON:
Moderate: Crater Lake
Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups: Roseburg, Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Chiloquin
Unhealthy: Medford, Ashland, Klamath Falls, Shady Cove
Hazardous: Prospect
CALIFORNIA:
Moderate: Orleans, Weitchpec, Hoopa, Willow Creek
Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups: None reported
Unhealthy: Yreka, Fort Jones, Etna
Hazardous: Sawyers Bar
For more information about air quality issues in the region, click for Oregon and for California.