California air quality

Unusually prolonged high pressure system sitting here for 1+ week allowed record temperature in SF and forest fire particulates to accumulate in Northern California. This should begin abating today.

 

It's PM from the wild fires...




Ozone is a non-issue at this time...

 

The thermometer in Downtown San Francisco briefly touched 106 degrees Friday afternoon, shattering the city's all-time record high of 103 set June 14, 2000. The temperature had cooled to 94 a couple hours later. Over at San Francisco Airport, the thermometer briefly hit 104, breaking their all-time record -- also 103...

An intense ridge of high pressure bubbling up the coast is not only bringing an extremely hot air mass, but similar to Seattle heat waves, they had an intense east wind that not only blows in hotter air from the interior, but holds back any kind of sea breeze.​

106! San Francisco shatters all-time record high as heat wave bakes the West | KOMO

 

PM = Particulate Matter = smoke, I guess?

Up here our lawns are pretty much hay.

 

hose pipe ban?

 

Actually you're still allowed to water, certain times and days of the week. We're just goin' commando, lol. A lot of people are. A few diehards still water their lawns, the fools.

 

The SF area pollution is brown and smells burnt. Add 106 degrees in an area where few people have A/C in their homes and it's pretty miserable. Bring back the 60 degree fog from the west!!!

 

When I walked out of the building I have an office in on Thursday, I couldn't see mount diablo to the south which is 5 miles away as the crow flies. It reminded me of being down in SoCal.

The 114 F temperatures didn't help either.

But 83 today helped out a lot.

 

Some in the Bay Area don't have them either.

 

Air Pollution in the Bay Area's Refinery Corridor

As I've alluded to and some other whistle blowers can attest to (like the refineries make 12x more pollution than expected article you can google)

Refineries make most of the pollution exceeding that of car pollution, the Bay Area is no exception and despite recent anger exposing the lack of effective emissions controls on Bay Area refineries it is unlikely anything will be done.

The most recent effort has been shut down in July and despite sympathetic rhetoric from the government I do not believe any true will exists to change this.

The smoking gun is not vehicle pollution or semi NOx pollution,its the antiquated supply side.

 

A modernized supply side wouldn't just be cleaner, but would also reach output spec withing days instead of the weeks it will take the refineries that shutdown in Texas.

 

Eleven years ago I did a 25k trail run (crawl?) up the north side of Mt. Diablo. Same time of year, but the air was much cleaner that day. Wouldn't try it with the current smoky air even if I could handle the run. Actually, it was only 12.5k up, but my quads were so trashed that I could only walk back down. Top was really beautiful.

 

Your experience kinda minds me of my first hike up half dome in Yosemite. I didn't realize how intense the elevation changes would mess with a person . As an eastern states hiker (no real experience with significant elevation changes), I just made it to the top . I was surprised how long it took to get to the top, but coming back down was a breeze.

What also helped with speed of decent was a 400 pound bear crossing our path 100 yards from where we just were.

 

Just remember, you don't have to outrun the bear. All you have to do is outrun the person you're with...

 

The PM index here (Inland NW) was pushing 225 today, with some areas well over 300. That's gas mask range. Temps in the low to mid 90's. "Do not go outside" is the current advice. Not getting any better until at least Wednesday.

 

I live in Southern Oregon, in the purple hazardous area. When driving you can see maybe 800-1000 feet in front of you. In Portland it's raining ash. I haven't gone on one of my 3 mile runs since maybe late July


Also, my Prius has gone from 45 mpg to 41ish. My driving hasn't changed.

 

A bit better than yesterday but here's Central Point OR.





iPhone ?

 

check your air filter.