Bay Area air quality getting worse: Here's when you might see smoky skies

Alix Martichoux Image
ByAlix Martichoux KGO logo
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Bay Area air quality expected to deteriorate: Here's when it will get bad
Most of the Bay Area has moderate air quality right now, but things are starting to head downhill. Here's when you might seeing - and smelling - smoky skies.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Smoke from the Glass Fire Incident burning in Napa and Sonoma is starting to impact the entire Bay Area's air quality, says ABC7 News meteorologist Mike Nicco.

The least healthy air to be found Tuesday will be in the North Bay, closest to the wildfire. "It's going to be poor for the rest of us and likely remain that way until Friday," says Nicco.

On Tuesday morning, our interactive air quality tracker showed much of the Bay Area with good to moderate AQI (or Air Quality Index) readings. But the air quality is expected to deteriorate throughout the week, and your neighborhood may see on-and-off poor AQI readings as the Glass Fire continues to spew out smoke.

AIR QUALITY TRACKER: Track Bay Area air quality levels

App users: For a better experience, click here to view the full map in a new window

"As we head overnight, fingers crossed, the sea breeze will continue to keep most of us clean -- except for the North Bay," says Nicco. "But look what happens tomorrow, the sea breeze relaxes and smoke spreads over all of our neighborhoods and this continues through Thursday and the better part of Friday.

"As we head into Friday and Saturday, most of the smoke is going to be back again in the North Bay."

LATEST: Glass Fire live updates: Wildfire nearly quadruples in 24 hours, more than 10,000 structures threatened

A Spare the Air alert is in effect for the Bay Area through Friday, Oct. 2, and Nicco says he wouldn't be surprised if that gets extended through the weekend.

"Keep those N95 masks handy," he adds.

App users: For a better experience, click here to view the full map in a new window

Tuesday isn't expected to heat up as much as Monday, but the South Bay is still expected to reach the mid-90s. The overnight lows will be more comfortable, but you may not want to leave your windows open in case the smoke wafts in. See Nicco's full smoke forecast in the video player at the top of this story.

ABC7 News will be keeping a close eye on the air quality and updating this story as conditions change. You can always track live air quality readings in the embedded map above or by clicking here.

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