Health Advisory: Wildfires
Smoke from wildfires in northern and central California is currently affecting air quality in the Bay Area. Air quality in portions of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties is forecast to exceed federal health standards on June 25 and 26. Particulate levels in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties are also expected to be elevated on those days. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is advising residents in areas affected by the smoke to be cautious and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities. For more information about local wildfires, see the CAL FIRE website, and the USDA Forest Service. For general smoke and fire information, see our wildfire safety tips and CAPCOA’s Smoke Impact information and resources.

More info. at http://www.baaqmd.gov/

Health Advisory: Wildfires
Smoke from wildfires in northern and central California is currently affecting air quality in the Bay Area. Air quality in portions of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties is forecast to exceed federal health standards on June 25 and 26. Particulate levels in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties are also expected to be elevated on those days. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is advising residents in areas affected by the smoke to be cautious and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities. For more information about local wildfires, see the CAL FIRE website, and the USDA Forest Service. For general smoke and fire information, see our wildfire safety tips and CAPCOA’s Smoke Impact information and resources.

More info. at http://www.baaqmd.gov/

now it's been updated to include tomorrow, the 27th. Saturday's ride might be nasty!

JB

Even sucked up at Lake Berryessa:Geez, I would have thought it'd be better up thataway. I was going to take a (non-bicycle) ride up there on Wednesday, but ended up having to cancel. I guess it's for the best.

It's even worse today than the previous days. Guess I'll pull out the trainer; my eyes burn just walking around outside. Riding and trying to breathe this ashtray-like air is crazy.

Right now it's so smoky that you'd think there was cloud cover. Except for the reddish tinge to the air.

How much worse would this be if the fires were even closer? Yipes.It didn't seem too bad this morning, but by mid-afternoon, the heat suddenly appeared, and the smoke got really bad. Just nasty. The ride home was bleh.

How's this for a weather report:
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/4461/smokekp8.jpg

I love the "stay inside" warning.
Like my air in the house is different than the air outside.

I love the "stay inside" warning.
Like my air in the house is different than the air outside.

But it is (or should be) filtered by your A/C.

I don't know about you, Curtis, but we have filters on our AC. So unless a window's open we don't smell like campfire inside.

Here are a couple shots from in front of my house at about 8 p.m. The sun was a red ball, and those hills are barely 1/2 mile from where I stand. I can't imagine how much worse it must be to live closer to the fires.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/cgallagh/FierySunJune08.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/cgallagh/SmokyValleyJune08.jpg

Friday's more of the same, folks. This is from BBAQMD:

Air quality in Bay Area continues to be unhealthy due to
smoke from wildfires
SAN FRANCISCO – The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is extending its
health advisory to residents in the Bay Area due to unhealthy air quality from Northern
California wildfires.
Air quality throughout much of the nine-county Bay Area region—comprising Alameda,
Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, southwestern
Solano and southern Sonoma Counties—is forecast to reach unhealthy levels on
Thursday, June 26, and Friday, June 27. The Air District has recorded elevated levels of
particulate matter throughout the Bay Area, but especially in the northern and eastern
parts of the region, and is advising the public to limit their exposure to the smoky air.
“For the next few days, we are expecting air quality in the Bay Area to continue to be
impacted by the northern California wildfires,” said Air District Communications Director
Lisa Fasano. “We will continue to issue air quality forecasts and advise the public to
take appropriate precautions.”
Bay Area residents are advised to:
• Limit outdoor activities to avoid unnecessary exposure:notamused:
• Reduce exposure to smoky air by remaining indoors with windows and doors
closed
• Set air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate
• If you have asthma or other lung disease, make sure you follow your doctor's
directions about taking your medicines and following your asthma management
plan. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.
• If you have heart or lung disease, if you are an older adult, or if you have
children, talk with your doctor about whether and when you should leave the
area.
Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a scratchy throat and
irritated sinuses. Elderly persons, children, and individuals with heart or lung disease
are particularly susceptible to elevated air pollution levels and should take extra
precautions to avoid exposure. Persons experiencing severe symptoms should seek
professional medical advice or treatment.
-

I'm starting to wonder if signing up for the Giro was a good idea. :notamused: I'd probably ride it even if part of the course was smoldering. I'd just hate to see it get cancelled when we have such a good BF turnout.:giver:

Looking worse down here in San Jose :(

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9717633

Haze, smoke, sun in South Bay forecast, health advisory to stay inside
By Lisa Fernandez
Mercury News
Article Launched: 06/27/2008 06:51:08 AM PDT

Consider throwing in the towel this weekend on your outdoor swimming or picnic plans, and heading indoors to take in a movie instead.

National Weather Service forecasters say widespread haze and smoke will fill the skies - thanks to the hundreds of wildfires burning throughout the state - today through at least Sunday. And air quality officials are extending a health advisory to stay indoors today, especially for asthmatics, young children and the elderly, because of elevated levels of air pollution.

Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 88 today. Southwest winds are expected to blow between 7 and 10 mph.

The forecast is similar for the rest of the weekend. By Monday, forecasters say much of the haze may clear.

Cancel Picnic plans?

I wonder what they would say about doing the Grio tomorrow? haha

Sweet, king of the mountain month and the haze may clear by... drumroll please... the LAST DAY OF THE MONTH.

Cancel Picnic plans?

I wonder what they would say about doing the Grio tomorrow? haha

If the wind is blowing off the ocean, then the air around Tunitas etc. should be a lot better than around the air around the bay.

http://airnow.gov/
Yellow listing for the areas of the Giro tomorrow. "Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. "

My wife tells me I'm unusually insensitive. ;)

I don't think we'll be going, but just in case: Are there same day signups, or is it sold out?

And i guess we're all hoping the air near the ocean wil be OK?

Rode my standard 34 mile loop yesterday, that sucked, especially Moraga. Today I feel like I smoked a pack of cigarettes last night, my voice is hoarse and throat hurts. I wanted to ride with friends on Sunday, now I'm not so sure.

I don't think we'll be going, but just in case: Are there same day signups, or is it sold out?

And i guess we're all hoping the air near the ocean wil be OK?

From http://www.festafoundation.org/giro.html
>
> Deadlines:
> ONLINE (Fees Due by 5pm June 27)
>

http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1547650&assetId=f07e4029-ced1-4d6d-9ff1-731504cb4fdc

Do it. The air was fine yesterday, at least for those of us that aren't unusually sensitive.

The air seems to have gotten a bit better since yesterday afternoon (at least the San Mateo to San Francisco areas). My nose didn't detect any smoke on my commute route this morning.

Solano County extended the advisory through the end of the month. Screw that, I'm riding to work tomorrow. The sun at least looked somewhat yellow instead of red this evening. Even if the sky was still red and gray.

I saw stars over Benicia tonight!

The air in Livermore is a 100 times better this evening. I can even see the hills !!!

The air was fine today for Giro. It was overcast most of the day, but it was not smokey at all.