Hazy skies around Lake Tahoe and the Sierra

Have you noticed hazy skies around Lake Tahoe today? No, there are no fires nearby but the Air Quality Index (AQI) is showing a "moderate" range.

There are two fires southwest of Yosemite near Mariposa, but winds are most likely not strong enough to carry that smoke into the Tahoe Basin and Northern Nevada. The Spring Fire started Sunday afternoon and has now burned 60 acres. Nearby the four-day old Ben Fire is 95 percent contained.

A "moderate" AQI range means most people won't notice anything as they enjoy the Sierra Nevada, but unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Tomorrow's forecast is the same.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno said today that they had been watching the haze and looking for a source. They said it could just be that the winds are light enough in many places to limit the amount of mixing in the lower atmosphere, thus keeping fine airborne particles trapped in the valleys and Tahoe basin.

Particle pollution is in the "good" range.