Weather
Worst Air Quality In Bay Area Permeates Parts Of North Bay
An image from a PG&E camera showed the current smoky conditions in Napa County, where the AQI reading was unhealthy in at least one city.
NAPA COUNTY, CA — Smoke from fires afar permeated the air Wednesday in Napa County and was expected to continue affecting the North Bay, according to the National Weather Service.
Further, a red flag warning was set to remain in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday for Napa County, bringing the threat of fire much closer to home. Gusty northerly winds, low humidity and hot temperatures were forecast to create elevated fire weather conditions across eastern Napa County, the National Weather Service said.
Through Thursday, wildfires in Northern California, Oregon and Washington were expected to keep the Bay Area under an air quality advisory for smoke. Wednesday afternoon, the worst air quality in the Bay Area — and quite possibly the country— was in Sonoma County, a map provided by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District showed.
Find out what's happening in Napa Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Views from @ALERTCalifornia cameras across the Unit, showing the drift smoke coming into our region. The smoke is from wildfires in northern California in Del Norte, Humboldt and Siskiyou counties. Currently we have no active fires in our Unit. pic.twitter.com/ceIVzOSg3i
— CAL FIRE LNU (@CALFIRELNU) August 30, 2023
Fortunately, air quality index readings for Napa County were mainly in the yellow and orange range, meaning conditions were moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups.
At one point Wednesday in Calistoga, the AQI rose to 151. Anything above 150 is in the red and is considered unhealthy — meaning residents should keep their outdoor activities light and short, and go indoors if they have symptoms. Sensitive groups, which are people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, pregnant women and people who spend a lot of time outdoors; should consider moving all activities indoors.
Find out what's happening in Napa Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
⚠️An air quality advisory for wildfire smoke has been issued through Thursday, 8/31. A Spare the Air Alert is also in effect for today, Wednesday, 8/30. If you smell smoke, avoid exposure. AQI readings: https://t.co/U3NGKXoUWV Wildfire preparedness tips: https://t.co/HMSBBnFtlV pic.twitter.com/f3FlNqAcYj
— Bay Area Air Quality (@AirDistrict) August 30, 2023
Here is the forecast through Labor Day for Napa County.
Wednesday Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 93. North wind around 9 mph becoming southwest.
Wednesday Night
Widespread haze after 10pm. Areas of smoke before 10pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday
Widespread haze. Increasing clouds, with a high near 85. Light and variable wind becoming south southwest 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night
Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
Friday
Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
Friday Night
Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Saturday
A slight chance of drizzle after 11am. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 69.
Saturday Night
Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Sunday
Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 75.
Sunday Night
Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Labor Day
Patchy fog. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 80.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 55.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 82.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 81.
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