Dust Risk-Based Forecast | Pinal County

Updated On: 03/31/20 - 9:42 AM

Wednesday

Stagnation: Light stagnation

Wind: Light becoming west to west-southwest 5-15 mph, gusts to 20 mph, diminishing late

Thursday

Stagnation: Light stagnation

Wind: Light becoming west to west-southwest 5-17 mph, gusts to 25 mph, diminishing late

Friday

Stagnation: Light stagnation

Wind: Light becoming northwest 5-10 mph

Saturday

Stagnation: Light stagnation

Wind: Light becoming west 5-10 mph

Sunday

Stagnation: Light stagnation

Wind: Light becoming southwest 5-12 mph

Forecast Discussion:

Hidden Valley PM10 has made its presence known with early morning PM10 spikes (hourly concentrations of 825 ug/m3 and 264 ug/m3 at 7 and 8 a.m. respectively). Thankfully the winds have switched and the PM10 concentrations are dropping. The remainder of this work week will feature weak upper air disturbances passing by well to our north. The most noticeable impact weather-wise will be afternoon breeziness with the winds being the strongest on Thursday. Some spotty blowing dust is possible on Thursday and is reflected in the PM10 AQI forecast which is in the good to low moderate range of the AQI scale. Have low dust risks for the five day forecast period since the Hidden Valley PM10 spikes that do occur should be short in duration and the daily average for that site is forecast to be in the low moderate AQI category (low dust risk). However that is subject to change, so stay tuned and check back tomorrow for an updated dust risk forecast.

- S.DiBiase
Pinal County Air Quality Meteorologist