[ADEQ Forecasts] ADEQ Issues Particulate Matter Health Watch for the Phoenix Metro Area for Wednesday, October 28, 2009

[forecasts@lists.azdeq.gov]

For more information, please visit our Web page:
http://www.azdeq.gov/ensemble.pdf

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


Health message for Tuesday October 27: People with heart or lung disease, older adults and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

Health message for Wednesday October 28: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.


Synopsis and Discussion
A PM-10 HIGH POLLUTION ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THRU MIDNIGHT TONIGHT  
A PM-10 HEALTH WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28
Very cold and potent weather system is approaching the Valley from the northwest as of this writing. Aside from the precipitous drop in temperatures, the major impact on the local forecast area will be a lengthy period of strong sustained as well as gusty winds. (Well upstream from the Valley, Edwards AFB CA has already had a gust of 70 mph as well as visibilities as low as two miles in blowing dust). Latest AMDAR soundings show that winds of 35 mph are already present at the 3500' level above Sky Harbor Airport, and forecast products are indicating that by 5:00 pm. today sustained winds at the 5K' level over the metro area will be in the 39-43 mph range and 49-52 mph at the 10K' level.  Surface wind gusts over 40 mph are therefore likely by this afternoon continuing into the evening hours as a surface cold front arrives around midnight.  Widespread blowing, suspended, and transported dust will add to the already elevated hourly PM-10 (coarse particle) concentrations this a.m. (~150-230ug/m3 at four monitoring sites) due to a strong (6-7 deg C surface-based inversion. There may be quite of a bit PM-10 carry-over on Wednesday due to residual suspended dust, and this is the primary reason for the Health Watch issuance for that day.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this forecast please contact:

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Communications
1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 771-2215
ms15@azdeq.gov

 

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