Boise issued an orange air quality advisory due to wildfires. Is it a cause for concern?

As wildfire season continues to ramp up in the northwest United States, the Treasure Valley received its first orange air quality advisory of the summer on Wednesday.

The wind has pushed smoke from the Cow Valley and Falls Fires in Oregon toward Boise, resulting in hazy skies and the Boise Foothills sometimes shrouded from the city below.

The pair of fires have been burning for about a week each. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality issued a yellow air quality advisory every day from July 9 through July 16 but upped the advisory to orange for Wednesday as more smoke moved into the area.

But what does an orange air quality advisory mean, and why was it issued?

What is an air quality advisory?

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality measures air quality for the Gem State. The department runs a real-time map on its website that updates the air quality every 15 minutes at 24 locations in Idaho, including four locations in the Treasure Valley.

The index calculates the number of pollutants in the air, considering the pollutant molecules’ size and severity, and produces a number between zero and 500.

Good air quality, which would fall under the green level of concern, is between zero and 50. The index then slowly increases through six levels up to maroon, a hazardous air quality due to the index being above 301.

It’s not uncommon for the Treasure Valley to be issued a yellow, or moderate, air quality advisory, the second-lowest severity level. Winter inversions or summer wildfires often result in yellow-level advisories, but an orange-level advisory is a bit less common.

Why does Boise have an orange air quality advisory?

An orange air quality advisory is classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and requires an air quality index between 101 and 150.

The National Weather Service reports that the Treasure Valley’s air quality has decreased this week because winds are pushing smoke northeastward.

“Air pollutants can cause breathing difficulties for children, the elderly, as well as persons with respiratory problems,” the advisory reads. “Those individuals who are sensitive to increased particulate matter or smoke are encouraged to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity during this advisory.”

Fortunately, the orange-level advisory won’t last for long. If required, the DEQ issues air quality advisories each afternoon for the following day. Although official advisories haven’t been issued yet, according to the department’s website , it expects a yellow-level advisory for Thursday and Friday.

Smoke will be clearing back out because the Weather Service expects gusty winds on Wednesday afternoon. The Weather Service also forecasts a 15-30% chance of thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon, which would help clear the smoke.