Skies again turn orange in central California as wildfire smoke returns
Pockets of unhealthy air quality were measured in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys as smoke from wildfires still burning in the Sierras blew north into the region.
Eerie red sunrise greets those in Sacramento on Monday as wildfire smoke pours into the region again.
(National Weather Service, Sacramento)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- It was another eerie red sunrise across central California's Sacramento, and San Joaquin Valleys as smoke from wildfires still burning in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains blew north.
Unhealthy air quality levels were measured across much of the valleys, including Fresno, with a pocket of very unhealthy air quality around Visalia and Porterville, near where the KNP Complex Fire and Windy Fires continue to rage.
#GOESWestš°ļøgeocolor loop this afternoon shows smoke from active wildfires in the southern Sierra, including theĀ #KNPComplexĀ &Ā #WindyFire, impacting the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys.#CAwxĀ #CAfireĀ pic.twitter.com/l24AWuXLyT
ā NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento)Ā October 3, 2021
Poor air quality is expected to remain around Modesto and Sacramento through Monday, though it should remain below hazardous levels.
Some smoke will drift through interior NorCal today from theĀ #KNPcomplexĀ andĀ #WindyFire. Here is the smoke loop for the rest of today. For official air quality information please visitĀ https://t.co/LRRlZ9Qx8cĀ #CAfireĀ #CAwxĀ pic.twitter.com/IRNsUh5i32
ā NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento)Ā October 4, 2021
This smoke event will be short-lived as a trough of low pressure heading into the Pacific Coast will help sweep the smoke away on Tuesday, improving air quality in the valley.
The KNP Complex Fire remains about 11% contained as it has burned nearly 68,000 acres. The nearby Windy Fire has burned almost 95,000 acres stretched along a fire line 200 miles in length and is about 68% contained.
Cooler weather is heading into the region for this week though breezes will kick up as well.