May 29, 2009
Smoke over Central US and Gulf of Mexico, Unhealthy Ozone Levels in Texas
Today’s HMS map (below) shows the thin smoke that was present yesterday over the Dakotas, and southern Canada drifting to the southeast covering Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, western Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri. Smoke from fires in Mexico and Guatemala were confined to the south of the Gulf of Mexico due to a frontal zone moving through the north of the Gulf. A patch of denser smoke was seen over the southwest Gulf into the Bay of Campeche.
According to EPA’s Airnow site, Good PM2.5 AQI (right figure)levels were experienced throughout the nation. Moderate PM25 were recorded between the Georgia and South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Southern California. Ozone concentrations (left figure) reached Moderate levels in Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and California. Texas experienced ozone concentration that reached “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (code Orange) levels. Tomorrow, Saturday May 30th, has been declared as an Air Quality Action Day for the following cities in the state of Texas: Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Tyler-Longview-Marshall, Beaumont-Port Arthur, and San Antonio.
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