[ADEQ Forecasts] ADEQ Daily Air Quality Forecast - Saturday, March 05, 2011

[forecasts@lists.azdeq.gov]

Health message for Friday March 04: Unusually sensitive people should
consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. 

Health message for Saturday March 05: Unusually sensitive people should
consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. 
 

Synopsis and Discussion:
In the wake of another weak trough passage to the north of the Valley
today, a strong ridge aloft will build overhead from the west on
Saturday.  Improving dispersion due to increasing winds from the north
today and from the northeast and east on Saturday morning will help keep
24-hour average particle pollution and ozone levels relatively low.
Ozone levels are expected to increase a bit on Sunday over the far
eastern part of the Valley due to a westerly wind shift and afternoon
high temperatures above 80 deg F.  These winds will be a precursor to a
significant but brief weather change early next week as a strong but
mostly dry upper level trough in the mid-latitude storm track approaches
from the northwest.  For now it appears that little if any rain will
accompany this system, and by Monday afternoon gradient wind gusts near
40 mph are possible.  A couple of high hourly PM-10 (coarse particle)
concentrations were captured this a.m. - 177.5ug/m3 at West Phoenix and
141.3ug/m3 at West Forty Third - indicating that local soils are already
drying out from last week's rain event.  Since dry, warm, and breezy
weather conditions are on tap the next three days, this process will
likely continue making Monday's winds capable of producing areas of
transported/suspended/blowing dust in the Valley.  This situation will
be updated on Sunday.  -Reith   


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

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


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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