[ADEQ Forecasts] ADEQ AIR QUALITY FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2008

[forecasts@lists.azdeq.gov]

Health message for Thursday, Feb 21: Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged exertion outdoors.

Health message for Friday, Feb 22: Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged exertion outdoors.

Synopsis and Discussion
Not bad for showers that were supposed to stay north of the forecast area!  At about 10:15pm on Wednesday night, thunderstorms rumbled across the Valley, moving from north to south.  Accumulations were greatest in the higher elevated locations of the northeast Valley, generally around 0.16 inches or so.  Officially, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport received a tenth of an inch.  Not a whole lot, but good enough to knock particulate levels back into the "Good" range of the Air Quality Index (AQI).  There's yet another disturbance poised to impact the Phoenix forecast area late Thursday night into early Friday.  Again, models are suggesting that the bulk of the moisture will stay north of the Valley, but learning from last night's event, it is possible that we could see some occasional heavy pocket of rain here in the lower deserts.  Air quality will remain in the "Good" range through Saturday and likely Sunday as a result of these latest rain-producing storms.  In case anyone is growing weary of this wet weather pattern, there is good news.  High pressure will return late Saturday through much of next week providing the region with mostly sunny skies.  Afternoon desert temperatures are forecast to reach 80°F by next Thursday.  High pressure also means decreased mixing which leads to high particulate concentrations in the Valley.  Check back tomorrow for the latest look at your weekend's weather and air quality.  Have a good day!  -J.Paul

For more information:
http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/ensemble.pdf

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