September 11, 2020 - The U.S. Forest Service reports smoke and air quality outlook for the San Joaquin-Yosemite areas, due to the Creek Fire.

Fire: Yesterday’s smoke inversion again helped moderate fire behavior, with 6% containment along the western edge of the fire, and about the same emissions levels as we saw yesterday. Today, moderate fire activity under terrain-driven winds is again likely in areas under the persistent smoke inversion, but potential for active fire behavior persists in areas outside that inversion, with light afternoon winds out of the SW again this afternoon.

Smoke: Hazardous range air quality is occurring under the smoke-enhanced inversion all around this fire. Afternoon SW winds aloft also helped bring heavy smoke to Mammoth Lakes farther east last night. That smoke inversion pattern under light SW winds aloft is likely to persist in these same areas today and tomorrow. Models show some evening improvement today at sites at lower elevations on the edge of the San Joaquin Valley, south and/or west of the fire.

Notes: Forecasts reflect particulate matter from smoke only – not ozone or dust. Poor visibility, potentially less than 1/4 mile is likely under ~6000 foot elevation

Source: USFS