Air Quality Alert

NMZ207-208-219-220-241-231900-

Air Quality Alert Message...UPDATED
Relayed by National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
737 PM MDT Sun May 22 2022

...AIR QUALITY ALERT...

The following message is transmitted at the request of the New Mexico
Departments of Health and Environment, United States Forest Service
and the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program.

* WHAT...Continued cooler temperatures and higher humidity have
  reduced fire growth and smoke production, especially in the
  northeast. Western New Mexico will have warmer temperatures and
  strong southwesterly winds which will shift to the south with breezy
  to windy conditions prevailing. While smoke from active fires is
  expected to move to the northeast of fires, a persistent south and
  southeast wind through the New Mexico`s central valley will continue
  to spread smoke northward from Socorro to the Albuquerque metro
  area, and northwestward from Socorro to Grants, for the remainder of
  tonight. Southwest winds will develop Monday morning, clearing the
  smoke from the Grants and Albuquerque areas. Smoke from other
  wildfires and localized blowing dust will contribute to increasingly
  hazy skies.

* WHERE...Locations mostly likely to experience the most significant
  impacts from smoke include the western Socorro County, with moderate
  impacts in Bernalillo, Valencia, eastern Cibola, and central and
  eastern Socorro Counties. Details on impacted locations and the
  latest air quality information can be found at:
  https://fire.airnow.gov.

* WHEN...The remainder of this evening through at least 1 PM MDT
  Monday, May 23.

* IMPACTS...Those with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive
  pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and heart
  disease will be especially vulnerable to impacts from poor air
  quality, as will adults over age 65, young children, and pregnant
  women if smoke concentrations become unhealthy.

* HEALTH INFORMATION...Remember, your eyes are your best tools to
determine if it is safe to be outside. Use the 5-3-1 Method available
at https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html.

If visibility is:

Under 5 miles, the air quality is unhealthy for young children,
adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart
and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness.
Outdoor activity should be minimized.

Around 3 miles, young children, adults over age 65, pregnant
women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other
respiratory illness should avoid all outdoor activities.

Around 1 mile, the air quality is unhealthy for everyone. People
should remain indoors and avoid all outdoor activities including
running errands. Unless an evacuation has been issued, stay inside
your home, indoor workplace, or in a safe shelter.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting New Mexico and with the
wildfire season underway, New Mexicans will need to take extra
precautions. Smoke from wildfires may cause people to have more
severe reactions if they are infected COVID-19. The best way to
protect against the potentially harmful effects of wildfire smoke and
to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home and create a clean
indoor air space. NMDOH offers tips here:

https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/IndoorQuality.html and
https://cv.nmhealth.org

New Mexicans will also need to take steps to keep their homes cool to
avoid heat-related illnesses. NMDOH offers tips here:

https://nmtracking.org/health/heatstress/Heat.html.

For smoke forecast outlooks from the Interagency Wildland Fire Air
Quality Response Program please visit:

https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net.

$$

UPDATED TO EXPAND AIR QUALITY ADVISORY TO THE MIDDLE AND LOWER RIO
GRANDE VALLEY, AS WELL AS THE WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

NMZ402-408-409-231900-
Southern Gila Highlands/Black Range-Eastern Black Range Foothills-
Sierra County Lakes-
Including the cities of Silver City, Lake Roberts, Kingston,
Fort Bayard, Hillsboro, Winston, Truth Or Consequences, Derry,
and Spaceport
334 PM MDT Sun May 22 2022

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT MONDAY...

The New Mexico Departments of Health and Environment has issued an
Air Quality Alert, until 1 PM MDT Monday.

An Air Quality Alert for Smoke has been issued.

* WHAT... Continued cooler temperatures and higher humiditys have reduced
  fire growth and smoke production especially in the northeast.
  Western NM will have warmer temperatures and strong southwesterly
  winds which will shift to the south, with breezy to windy
  conditions prevailing. Smoke from active fires is expected to move
  to the northeast of fires today, however significant transport
  isn`t expected, with significant impacts expected primary near
  active fires. Albuquerque could see some light smoke this afternoon
  and evening, though any smoke that does impact the area is
  expected to clear by morning. Smoke is expected to stay out of the
  Rio Grande Valley today. Smoke from other wildfires and localized
  blowing dust will contribute to increasingly hazy skies especially
  for the middle Rio Grande Valley corridor.

* WHERE...Locations most likely to experience the most significant
  impacts from smoke include the following counties: Northeast Grant,
  northwest Sierra, and western Socorro. Details on impacted
  locations and latest air quality information can be found at
  https://fire.airnow.gov

* WHEN... Remainder of this afternoon through at least 1pm MDT
  Monday, May 23

* HEALTH INFORMATION...Remember, your eyes are your best tools to
  determine if it is safe to be outside. Use the 5-3-1 Method
  available at
  https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html.

If visibility is:

Under 5 miles, the air quality is unhealthy for young children,
adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart
and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness.
Outdoor activity should be minimized.

Around 3 miles, young children, adults over age 65, pregnant
women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other
respiratory illness should avoid all outdoor activities.

Around 1 mile, the air quality is unhealthy for everyone. People
should remain indoors and avoid all outdoor activities including
running errands. Unless an evacuation has been issued, stay inside
your home, indoor workplace, or in a safe shelter.

NMDOH offers tips here:

https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/IndoorQuality.html and

https://cv.nmhealth.org

New Mexicans will also need to take steps to keep their homes cool
to avoid heat-related illnesses. NMDOH offers tips here:

https://nmtracking.org/health/heatstress/Heat.html.

For smoke forecast outlooks from the Interagency Wildland Fire Air
Quality Response Program please visit:

https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net.


$$