LRAPA forecasts poor air quality for Willamette Valley's weekend
WILLAMETTE VALLEY, Ore. (KTMR) -- The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency is warning residents and tourists throughout the area of the possibility for declining air quality through the weekend.
Sally Marcos told NewsSource 16 when temperatures are warmer than 90 degrees, the wind is barely blowing and the sun is out, the likelihood of ozone formation is high. That means high levels of smog could be the case as early as Friday, as forecasters are expecting temperatures to reach close to 100 degrees in some areas.
Smog mostly forms from pollutants like car exhaust, factory smoke and other chemicals released in the air including aerosols like hair spray. The stand-still air can affect breathing for some, including those with respiratory problems, lung disease, bronchitis and asthma.
"They might see increased wheezing, coughing or even burning lungs," Marcos explained.
Smog is the worst when the temperatures are hottest, usually around 5 PM.
LRAPA suggests people limit their use of cars until the evening and avoid using lawn mowers, which give off fumes as well.
Wind can carry smog, too, from Portland to Eugene or from Eugene to Roseburg. Smog dissipates once the wind picks up or temperatures cool down, which is predicted for Monday as onshore flow begins.
Thus far, Marcos said the air has been very clean.
For more information about the air quality, go to www.LRAPA.org.
