SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Northern California has been blanketed by smoky skies from a number of large fires in recent days and it should continue to be unhealthy.
A stubborn weather pattern will keep warm conditions in the forecast with daily highs routinely in the upper 90s. Daily wind shifts will keep smoke in valley areas and concentrate smoke near the fires and along the Sierra foothills.
The pattern emerging in the days ahead will take overnight smoke down in elevation to river bottoms and the valley floor, with calm winds.
For some areas that get a nighttime breeze from the ocean, like the Delta Breeze, the smoke may actually clear in the evening and early morning hours. The break would give people in those areas an opportunity for limited activities.
As the sun rises that wind may calm for several hours and the smoke will settle again to the ground level.
Later in the afternoon as the temperatures warm up the active fires will produce more smoke.
The afternoon smoke will rise and plume to the Northeast. Air quality directly in this path will be hazardous at times.
Each day this week the general air quality will be either unhealthy or unhealthy for sensitive people. In some areas far from the fires, with some evening and morning wind, the air quality may improve to moderate at times. Some outdoor activities may be possible.
For hourly conditions, you can check sparetheair.com and get an idea of the conditions in your area.
Smoke will be part of the forecast until the fires are out and we get a big pattern shift like strong winds or rain. We do not expect either of those bigger shifts for the next 7 days or longer.