Weather Service: Smoke to get worse through Thursday
The National Weather Service in Reno has provided this image which shows the probable areas of smoke through Friday based on forecast wind information and assuming the King Fire remains active.
Southwest winds will keep the smoke area in the general same area through Wednesday. Winds will turn more westerly behind a cold front on Thursday and push smoke more into western Nevada.
Thursday could be the worst day for the Lake Tahoe basin and Sierra Front. On Friday, winds will switch to the east and push the smoke out of the area. Smoke will reduce visibility and obscure terrain as well as reduce air quality at times in the color shaded areas.
The King Fire is located in the canyon of the South Fork of the American River north of the community of Pollock Pines in El Dorado County. As of Tuesday morning it had burned 11,570 acres in heavy timber and steep terrain and was 5 percent contained. 500 homes are threatened and more than 1,500 firefighters are battling the blaze. Go here for the latest fire updates.
The following are steps you can take to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. Courtesy of Washoe County Health District: Air Quality Management Division.
1. Check local air quality reports. (www.AirNow.gov)
2. Consult local visibility guides here if they are available
3. Keep indoor air as clean as possible.
4. Follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
5. Do not rely on dust masks for protection.