[ADEQ Forecasts] ADEQ Daily Air Quality Forecast - Saturday, May 26, 2012

Fri May 25 12:37:17 MST 2012

Please Note:

On Tuesday, May 29, 2012, ADEQ will begin sending the Maricopa County Daily Air Quality Forecast out through an email subscription service. This system allows people to sign up to receive this forecast (as well as other forecast products and informative messages) via the ADEQ website. It also allows people to sign up to receive a text version of the forecast on mobile devices. It will still include an attached PDF of the forecast as well as a link to its location online.

The biggest benefit to the ADEQ Forecast Team and recipients is the ability of each recipient to subscribe/unsubscribe at your own convenience without having to send an email to each forecaster.  

We anticipate the list of recipients will grow very rapidly upon starting this new process of distribution (already over 500 people waiting!) 

The good news. If you are already receiving this forecast directly from Chris Reith or Joe Paul, you do not need to sign up. We will automatically transfer addresses for a smooth transition.

However, as of today, we will be directing any new requests for inclusion to sign up at http://azdeq.gov/.  Just click the Daily Air Alerts SIGN UP button on the right hand side.  

Health message for Friday, May 25, 2012: Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

Health message for Saturday, May 26, 2012: Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

Synopsis and Discussion
*A PM10 HPA REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012*
A strong trough of low pressure has begun to move through the western states, increasing winds out of the southwest across Arizona.  Some periods of blowing dust are likely across the deserts through Saturday morning, pushing PM10 levels towards the health standard.  Dust-related air quality will improve by Sunday as winds decrease.

This trough will also bring much cooler air to the region.  Saturday's high will be 15 degrees below normal (Forecast - 83°F, Normal - 98°F).  Temperatures will rebound to normal by Monday and Tuesday as high pressure returns.

Another product of this trough is ozone/precursor import.  With winds out of west and southwest, Arizona tends to get ozone and precursors transported from southern California.  Though winds will not allow ozone precursors to set up long enough to form the invisible ozone plume on Friday and Saturday, we could see levels push into the middle part of the Moderate range on Sunday and possibly higher by Monday.

Check back on Sunday for a look ahead at next week's weather and air quality.  Until then, have a great weekend!  -J.Paul

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

For transportation alternatives:
www.valleymetro.org 

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

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