Air Quality Warning in Effect for Jackson County | Video

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT MONDAY...

Jackson County Public Health has issued an air quality advisory for
Jackson County through Monday due to numerous wildfires burning in
the region.

The wildfire smoke combined with forecast conditions will cause air
quality levels to fluctuate and could be at unhealthy levels.
Depending on weather patterns and fire activity, air quality could
be impacted for longer.

Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on the weather. Smoke can
irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions.
People most at risk include infants and young children, people with
heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.

People can take the following precautions to protect their health:

- Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air
quality.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during periods of poor air quality.
- People with heart or lung problems and young children are
especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke
levels are high.
- Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in
indoor heating, ventilation, cooling and air purification systems.
- Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke
if possible.

DEQs color-coded Air Quality Index provides current air quality
conditions and ranks air quality as follows: Green is good. Yellow is
moderate. Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children,
the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory conditions.
Red is unhealthy for everyone. Purple is very unhealthy for all
groups. Maroon is hazardous.

For additional information...please visit the web site at
https://oregonsmoke.org

.An upper level low will move up from the south along the
California coast late this afternoon, and will tap into
increasing mid-level moisture. Meanwhile, elevated instability
will increase and this combined with a moderate to strong trigger
could result in isolated to scattered thunderstorms this evening
into Sunday morning, and again Sunday afternoon and evening. Given
how dry fuels are, along with continued hot temperatures,
lightning efficiency will be high to very high for fire starts.

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 AM
PDT SUNDAY FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 622, AND 623...

The National Weather Service in Medford has replaced the Fire
Weather Watch with a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 5
PM this afternoon to 8 AM PDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Given the prolonged stretch of very hot and very dry
conditions, lightning efficiency will be high to very high for
fire starts. Additionally, gusty outflow winds will allow for
new and existing fires to grow rapidly out of control.

* AFFECTED AREA...All of Fire Zones 615, 616, 617, 618, 619,
620, 622, and 623.

* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected
late tonight into early Sunday morning. Lightning strikes
outside of precipitation cores are possible and cause for
concern.

* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts up to 40 mph. These outflow winds can
travel up to 50 miles away from the thunderstorm that caused
it.

* DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at
https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Avoid tossing burning cigarettes on the ground, parking hot
vehicles on dry vegetation, and using equipment that can cause
sparks. Follow all fire restrictions. Find links to restrictions
at weather.gov/medford/wildfire. One less spark, one less
wildfire.

If you have not packed your evacuation kit yet, now is the time
to do so. This includes items like important documents and
essentials you cannot live without. Fill your vehicle's fuel
tank. Visit ready.gov/kit for more information.

Plan now to avoid using equipment that could cause sparks during
the period when critical weather conditions are possible. Visit
weather.gov/medford/wildfire for links to fire restrictions in
your area.

Familiarize yourself with your evacuation plan. Where will you
go? How will you get there? Who will you call to let others know
your are safe? Visit ready.gov/wildfires for more information.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now or will shortly. These conditions
promote rapid spread of fire which may become life threatening.
Evacuate if ordered to, or if a fire threatens.

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