Wildfires could bring poor air quality to the Sacramento area. Here’s when and where

Smoke from wildfires scorching parts of Northern California could arrive in the Sacramento region over the next few days, causing air quality to dip.

Depending on the direction of the wind, smoke from the Park Fire, Crozier Fire and Silver Fire could reach Sacramento and create unhealthy air conditions for some residents, according to Spare the Air.

Winds in Sacramento are expected to pick up speed Thursday afternoon and continue through the weekend, said Sara Purdue, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Sacramento Office. Wildfire smoke could travel through portions of the area as winds shift from southwest towards the east, she added.

Placer County and El Dorado County are already experiencing poor air quality due to the Crozier Fire, but smoke is not yet affecting Sacramento County, a spokesperson from the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District said.

Placer County Health and Human Services and the Placer County Air Pollution Control District issued a joint air quality advisory Thursday to alert people to increased air pollution from wildfire smoke. It will be in place through Sunday.

According to the advisory, the Lake Tahoe area will experience smoky skies primarily in the afternoon and evening hours. Air quality is also predicted to be poor in Auburn, Colfax and Foresthill once winds begin to shift Thursday night.

The air in Sacramento County on Thursday morning was at a “good” level, though pollution is expected to worsen to a “moderate” level later in the day, according to an air quality forecast on AirNow.

“Sunny and hot conditions will promote ozone development, and thin-density smoke in the foothills will enhance ozone production. These conditions will yield Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups ozone levels,” according to the site’s forecast discussion.

AirNow predicted that moderate to unhealthy air conditions will continue in the Sacramento region through Monday.

The federal program that provides real-time air quality data advised that people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution consider limiting their activity level or amount of time spent outdoors.

Where is wildfire smoke coming from?

The Park Fire and Crozier Fire are continuing to blaze through Northern California forests, forcing evacuations and worsening air quality.

As of Thursday morning, the Crozier Fire had burned at least 706 acres northeast of Placerville, with containment at 5%, according to Cal Fire.

The Park Fire had burned a total of 426,528 acres as of Thursday morning, Cal Fire said. The wildfire’s containment has remained 34% since Monday morning.

This story was originally published August 8, 2024 at 1:18 PM.