Smoke from the California wildfires continues to affect the Las Vegas Valley, although winds from the southwest started to disperse some of the smoke on Monday afternoon. Samuel Meltzer from the National Weather Service noted that while smoke levels should decrease throughout the day, they might return Monday night or Tuesday depending on fire containment efforts and wind patterns.
Data from Harry Reid International Airport indicated that south-southwest winds brought smoky conditions earlier in the day. The Clark County Department of Environment & Sustainability has warned that air quality might remain affected by the wildfires at least through Friday. The air quality forecast suggests ozone levels will be unhealthy for sensitive groups through Tuesday and moderate levels of smaller particulate matter pollution will persist through Wednesday.
The Gifford Fire, which has burned over 65,000 acres in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, remains largely uncontained. As of Monday, it was only three percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Earlier in the weekend, smoke from the Gifford Fire had already created a haze over the Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding valley. By Saturday afternoon, the fire had consumed nearly 24,000 acres and was only five percent contained. Andrew Gorelow from the National Weather Service previously predicted that the smoke would persist in Southern Nevada through Monday due to wind patterns.
Air quality in several parts of the valley was rated as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” affecting individuals with lung or heart conditions, as well as children and seniors. An air quality index reading near Paul Meyer Park in west Las Vegas reached 140, nearing the “unhealthy” category where health effects could be more widespread. Meanwhile, temperatures reached triple digits with wind speeds at 12 miles per hour.