Current:Home > reviewsThese parts of California are suffering from poor air quality from wildfire smoke -Wealth Legacy Solutions
These parts of California are suffering from poor air quality from wildfire smoke
Ethermac View
Date:2025-03-11 04:21:36
A smoky haze is currently blanketing the San Francisco Bay Area due to wildfires burning in the northwest, creating unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups.
The smoke stemming from multiple wildfires that continue to burn in rural areas of Northwestern California is getting pushed southward across parts of Northern California, including the Bay Area. Much of the smoke and haze is located in the upper atmosphere.
MORE: Wildfires in recent years have reversed some of the progress made in eliminating air pollution, new study suggests
Fire officials are letting them burn out since they are not threatening people or property.
The smoke was so thick on Wednesday that the San Francisco Bay Bridge was barely visible from the coastlines along the bay and the San Francisco skyline was barely visible across the bay from the Port of Oakland, ABC San Francisco station KGO reported.
The Air Quality Index for San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon was at 113, or "Code Orange," signifying unhealthy air pollution levels for sensitive groups.
Much of the smoke and haze is located in the upper atmosphere. The National Weather Service has not issued any air quality alerts for the region, but the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a "Spare the Air" alert through Thursday, which bans burning wood, fire logs or other solid fuel to prevent from further contributing to the poor air quality.
MORE: New app will allow New Yorkers to avoid commuting through the poorest air quality
A fire weather watch was in effect for much of Wednesday for the North Bay Hills and Solano County due to gusty winds and low humidity. Red flag warnings were also issued for portions of Napa County, according to the NWS.
San Francisco resident Sarah Ryherd told KGO that it smells like a campfire around the city.
Another resident told the station that they had put a mask on after he began to feel the effects of the air pollution in their throat.
Some schools in the region canceled sports activities due to the smoke, KGO reported. The fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, contained in wildfire smoke can cause serious health problems if inhaled, especially for vulnerable populations, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
MORE: HSmoke blankets San Francisco as residents forced to don masks to breathe
Air quality will likely not improve in the region until Friday, said KGO meteorologist Lisa Argen.
Residents were advised to stay indoors and keep their windows closed.
veryGood! (792)
Related
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- The Solid-State Race: Legacy Automakers Reach for Battery Breakthrough
- Alaska man inadvertently filmed own drowning with GoPro helmet camera — his body is still missing
- With Increased Nutrient Pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, Environmentalists Hope a New Law Will Cleanup Wastewater Treatment in Maryland
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- How Silicon Valley Bank Failed, And What Comes Next
- The Maine lobster industry sues California aquarium over a do-not-eat listing
- A “Tribute” to The Hunger Games: The Ultimate Fan Gift Guide
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Anger grows in Ukraine’s port city of Odesa after Russian bombardment hits beloved historic sites
Ranking
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Fires Fuel New Risks to California Farmworkers
- A Silicon Valley lender collapsed after a run on the bank. Here's what to know
- IRS whistleblower in Hunter Biden case says he felt handcuffed during 5-year investigation
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- YouTuber MrBeast Says He Declined Invitation to Join Titanic Sub Trip
- Turning Trash to Natural Gas: Utilities Fight for Their Future Amid Climate Change
- Warming Trends: Extracting Data From Pictures, Paying Attention to the ‘Twilight Zone,’ and Making Climate Change Movies With Edge
Recommendation
See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
Ford recalls 1.5 million vehicles over problems with brake hoses and windshield wipers
What is the DMZ? Map and pictures show the demilitarized zone Travis King crossed into North Korea
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
California aims to tap beavers, once viewed as a nuisance, to help with water issues and wildfires
U.S. arrests a Chinese business tycoon in a $1 billion fraud conspiracy
Tyson will close poultry plants in Virginia and Arkansas that employ more than 1,600