Friday, November 11, 2016, is code orange for the valleys of Asheville and Buncombe County due to forest fires. Air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children, active adults, and those with heart or respiratory disease, including asthma, should limit outdoor activity. Code red is forecast for Cherokee, Clay, Graham, and Macon counties, where air quality will be unhealthy for all in areas where smoke is present.
It is anticipated that the valleys of Asheville and Buncombe County will continue under an orange forecast throughout the weekend, and that orange and red will continue in our far southwest counties. Southerly winds on Saturday will make impacts worse south to southwest of Bryson City, Hendersonville and Morganton. Saturday night into Sunday, winds are expected to diminish and causing smoke to spread over a greater area, including Asheville and possibly into Hickory.
The WNC Air Quality office is closed on Friday, November 12, 2016, so for up to date forecast information throughout the weekend, please go to the forecast center here: https://xapps.ncdenr.org/aq/ForecastCenter
You can also get current conditions and regional forecast information here: https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&cityid=109
WNC Regional Air Quality Agency
125 South Lexington Avenue, Suite 101
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: 828.250.6777
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