Forecast Discussion

Several notable wildfires are currently burning across the state in York, Stanly/Montgomery, and Haywood counties. Code Orange fine particulate averages are expected in Polk, Stanly, and Montgomery counties today and Code Orange Alerts are in effect.

Code Orange Air Quality Alerts for PM2.5 will remain in effect through Monday night at midnight for Polk, Stanly, and Montgomery counties due to smoke from wildfires. Light and variable winds to calm at times, as well as inversions, will cause smoke to linger and lead to elevated hourly values Sunday night through Monday. Upper Yellow averages are expected across parts of the Mountains, specifically Haywood County, where smoke from a wildfire will lead to elevated hourly values. Outside of these areas, high pressure will lead to light and variable winds and fine particulates will increase slightly due to some stagnation, although most areas will be in Code Green range. As for ozone maximum 8-hour averages, sunshine and light winds will lead to a slight uptick from Sunday, but Code Green is expected statewide.

Southerly winds will begin to increase Tuesday as the state will be in between high pressure to our east and a strong low pressure system to our west. This will likely lead to Code Yellow fine particulate averages in the western half of the state, but some cleaner air will move into the eastern half. Depending on the status of the wildfires and smoke, some counties may need to be considered for another Code Orange for fine particulates, but this will be evaluated Monday. On Wednesday, rain and thunderstorms as well as clouds will move across the state and should lead to lowered fine particulates and ozone.