Smoky skies ahead in Lodi
Air district issues warning after shift in wind sends smoke into Central Valley
No blue skies will be smiling at Lodi for the next few days.
Smoke from the Dixie Fire burning in Butte and Plumas counties drifted down the Central Valley on Wednesday, reaching as far as San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties, according to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.
“A lot of the smoke across California right now in general is all just coming from the Dixie Fire,” said Max Gawryla, a meteorologist with the private forecasting firm AccuWeather.com.
A shift in the wind brought that smoke south on Wednesday, and no changes are expected for at least the next few days, Gawryla said.
By Wednesday afternoon, the Dixie Fire had grown to more than 217,500 acres. The fire, which is burning near the footprint of the deadly 2018 Camp Fire, was 23% contained at 4:36 p.m.
With smoke expected to linger through at least Friday and possibly longer, the Valley air district issued a warning advising area residents to stay indoors as much as possible to avoid the smoke.
“Particulate matter can trigger asthma attacks, aggravate chronic bronchitis, and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke,” the district warned in a press release. “Individuals with heart or lung disease should follow their doctors’ advice for dealing with episodes of PM exposure. Those with existing respirato
ry conditions, including COVID-19, young children and the elderly, are especially susceptible to the health effects from this form of pollution.”
Pregnant women should also take extra care because physical changes during pregnancy can make them more susceptible to pollution, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted.
“Pregnant women affected by smoke may also be at risk for problems such as preterm birth and babies born with low birth weight,” the CDC stated.
Gawryla echoed the air district’s advice.
“Keep inside if you can. If you have to go outside, face coverings actually do a lot,” he said.
While masks won’t protect against all pollution, they can filter out some of the larger particles, he said. Still, some good news may be on the horizon.
“There was some talk about there being some potential for some moisture to enter the area,” Gawryla said.
The moisture comes thanks to a strong start to the annual monsoon season in southern California and across the U.S. Southwest.
In the Valley, that is likely to mean a little more humidity in the air, though parts of the Sierra could possibly see some showers.
But even with no rain falling on the Dixie Fire, the more humid air could help make conditions — and fuel — a little less dry.
“That might help not necessarily put out the fire ... but it might help to slow its spread,” Gawryla said.