[ADEQ Forecasts] ADEQ AIR QUALITY FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 09, 2009

[forecasts@lists.azdeq.gov]

http://www.azdeq.gov/ensemble.pdf

For transportation alternatives:
http://www.valleymetro.org

Health message for Thursday January 08: Unusually sensitive people
should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. 

Health message for Friday January 09: Unusually sensitive people should
consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. 

Synopsis and Discussion
A PM-2.5 HEALTH WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THRU MIDNIGHT. 
Another stagnant day is in progress over the local forecast area.  The
axis of a rather strong ridge aloft will pass overhead today; another
few degrees of warming is expected at the 5K' level along with a mostly
light wind regime.  Latest ACARS sounding data indicates that the mixing
depths today will be near 2500' and that dispersion will be POOR or
MARGINAL.  Increasing high clouds from the south will also tend to
inhibit vertical mixing.  PM-2.5 levels were elevated on Wednesday and
remain so this morning; several monitoring sites had hourly
concentrations between 25 and 30ug/m3 at 10:00 a.m. Fine particulate
matter (PM-2.5) has been the pollutant of concern of late; since
December 1 thirteen Health Watches and two High Pollution Advisories
have been issued by ADEQ and exceedances have occurred on two days.
Fortunately, a change in the weather pattern will bring a dry "back
door" cold frontal passage and gusty winds late Friday and Saturday and
breezy northeasterly winds are expected to continue on Sunday.  Winds on
Saturday may be strong enough at times to generate some areas of blowing
dust from areas of disturbed soil; otherwise, good air quality is
anticipated for most of the upcoming weekend. -Reith  

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