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Gee Martha...do you smell smoke?
SANTA FE (AP) - Smoke from the fires burning about 800 miles
away in southern California has made for hazy skies in New Mexico.
The haze could last about three more days, according to the
National Weather Service.
Justin Aries and Jennifer Gottschau took in Thursday's hazy view
from a picnic table at Old Fort Marcy Park.
"I was looking at this going, 'Oh, my God.' I have never seen
it this amplified," Aries said.
Officials say the haze hasn't posed a health risk. It also
hasn't created any visibility problems for airplanes in the area.
"If you can see it in the air, it obviously can have (a health)
impact," said Jon Goldstein, New Mexico Environment Department
spokesman. "Today, the air quality is not so bad that we're going
to issue an advisory."
The Environment Department requires a daylong average reading of
65 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic meter to issue a
health advisory. The Molina Complex Fire last summer created such
advisories. Thursday's top reading of 38.3 micrograms was taken at
1 a.m., and by 2 p.m. it had dropped to 11.4.
The haze could also impact whether the Forest Service may
proceed with a prescribed burn in the Jemez Springs-area. Goldstein
said the Environment Department will make a decision on the burn
Monday morning based on air conditions.
Wildfires raging in Ruidoso and Colorado likely aren't the
sources for the smoke, leaving the California fires, National
Weather Service forecaster Mark Fettig said.
"It just seems very likely given the wind profile," Fettig
said.
The smoke, he said, is being pushed by winds from the west and
southwest. Heavy smoke is being reported in Arizona and Las Vegas.
Nev., Fettig said.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
away in southern California has made for hazy skies in New Mexico.
The haze could last about three more days, according to the
National Weather Service.
Justin Aries and Jennifer Gottschau took in Thursday's hazy view
from a picnic table at Old Fort Marcy Park.
"I was looking at this going, 'Oh, my God.' I have never seen
it this amplified," Aries said.
Officials say the haze hasn't posed a health risk. It also
hasn't created any visibility problems for airplanes in the area.
"If you can see it in the air, it obviously can have (a health)
impact," said Jon Goldstein, New Mexico Environment Department
spokesman. "Today, the air quality is not so bad that we're going
to issue an advisory."
The Environment Department requires a daylong average reading of
65 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic meter to issue a
health advisory. The Molina Complex Fire last summer created such
advisories. Thursday's top reading of 38.3 micrograms was taken at
1 a.m., and by 2 p.m. it had dropped to 11.4.
The haze could also impact whether the Forest Service may
proceed with a prescribed burn in the Jemez Springs-area. Goldstein
said the Environment Department will make a decision on the burn
Monday morning based on air conditions.
Wildfires raging in Ruidoso and Colorado likely aren't the
sources for the smoke, leaving the California fires, National
Weather Service forecaster Mark Fettig said.
"It just seems very likely given the wind profile," Fettig
said.
The smoke, he said, is being pushed by winds from the west and
southwest. Heavy smoke is being reported in Arizona and Las Vegas.
Nev., Fettig said.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)