When will the air clear in the Sierra foothills? What new weather system means for the area

After nearly three weeks of hazardous air quality, Wednesday marked the first respite for the Sacramento area. It’s a different story in the Sierra foothills, where the air remains smoky and unhealthy.

Air quality index readings in Colfax and Auburn show the air is still “very unhealthy” and “unhealthy” respectively, with high levels of fine particulate matter containing soot and smoke. Levels in Colfax were the highest in the region, reaching 217 by noon Wednesday. Auburn came in second with a reading of 184 by noon, making the air problematic for everyone after prolonged exposure. Members of sensitive groups should especially limit their time outside, according to local air district monitors at Spare the Air.

Areas in south Placer County, such as Roseville and Rocklin, are improving after smoke-filled air pushed air quality levels well above 200 over the weekend.

Air quality in Roseville improved Wednesday afternoon, with AQI readings falling to a moderate 69 after hitting 101 at midnight.

Folsom had blue skies for the first time in weeks, after smoky skies forced residents out of the city’s many parks and off trails and into their homes.

“As if we weren’t trapped in our houses enough, now we can’t even go outside,” said Danale Mellow, a Folsom resident since 2006.

Mellow said the hazy conditions have been especially hard on her son, who hasn’t been able to go outside to ride his bike after he’s finished distance learning for the day.

“He’s 12 and the only outlet he has is to go outside,” she said.

Mellow and her family have stopped working out outside and she said she hasn’t felt comfortable taking her dog on a walk in the poor air quality either. But Wednesday was the first day ash didn’t swirl around her car when she left her home, she said, and that’s a good sign.

Folsom will not not have updated air quality measurements until October, when reconstruction on the air quality control monitoring site is completed, but by Wednesday morning air quality had visibly improved. More than a dozen cyclists were riding on the Johnny Cash Trail south of the dam. Hikers and residents walking their dogs were traversing the trails east of the lake.

The air is expected to improve heading into the weekend.

A “unique weather system” and westerly winds over Thursday and Friday are forecast to bring in a clearer sky, according to the National Weather Service.

“More strong winds will come tomorrow afternoon and hopefully it will clear out a lot of the smoke in Sacramento area and foothills to the east,” said Hannah Chandler-Cooley, National Weather Service meteorologist.

The caveat, she said, is the level of fire activity to the north and south of Sacramento, and whether that burning will push more smoke into the region.

Nonetheless, Thursday and Friday should look much clearer for foothills residents, she said.

This story was originally published September 16, 2020 at 1:18 PM.