Special Statement
An Air Quality Alert is in effect for San Joaquin, Mariposa, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Tuolumne and Kern counties. For air quality forecasts for Sierra Forest and Yosemite Park go to this link: https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/YosemiteArea The following forecast is for PM 2.5 ONLY; Ozone is not included.
Fire
High pressure moving into the area yesterday resulted in increased fire behavior. Expect to see a similar increase in fire activity today in the late afternoon when the inversion lifts, producing very large visible smoke columns that will settle back into the valleys in the early evening. Suppression efforts will continue to use firing operations to support their fireline construction as conditions permit.
Smoke
Smoke that settled into the valleys last night will remain until late afternoon today. Expect mid-day relief when the fire activity lifts the smoke into visible columns. Hazy conditions with nighttime pooling will return in the late evening as the columns collapse, creating low visibility and brief periods of hazardous breathing conditions.