“It's not good,” says Charlene Albee, Division Director for the Air Quality Division for the Washoe County Health District. “It's really bad, unfortunately we've got three large fires that are burning West and Southwest of us.”
And the National Weather Service in Reno tells us the winds are moving exactly out of that direction into Northern Nevada.
Meteorologist Jim Wallmann explains. “We have an area of low pressure coming in that's responsible for the increase in the winds,” says Wallmann. “That would normally help to disperse the old smoke but it's also going to push in the new smoke from the fires.”
That means this thick white blanket is going to stick around for several days. “With the pattern coming in we could see some improvement after Wednesday when we start to get more of a Northwest wind direction,” says Wallmann.
Until it clears the Health District recommends those who are sensitive to it to take precautions. “Any young children and elderly, anybody with chronic lung diseases, heart diseases anything like that- we're fighting them to minimize activities to stay inside” says Albee.
And one of the best ways to rid your lungs of the particulate matter is to stay hydrated.
“This is how it works, says Albee. “If you're dehydrated and dry, your body cannot expel those as well because it's fighting already, try to even just breathe, so if you can stay hydrated, if you keep your lungs moist, your sinuses moist it lets the body fight back better.”
There's a tiny glimmer of hope. The Health District uses monitoring stations throughout the region to gauge how many particulates are in the air and update that information on the ‘Air Now’ website at http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_state&stateid=29
And if you believe in miracles, start praying…
“We might also see some rain on Wednesday which could help do two things: rain will not only help put the fires out, it also helps to wash out the particulates caught in the air too,” says Wallmann.
With temperatures dropping mid-week, we may even see a dusting of snow on Mt. Rose on Thursday morning!
When the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse, the Health District advises against outdoor exercise - even for healthy individuals.
