The Air District is issuing a Spare the Air Alert for today, Sunday, December 8, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors. Regional wood burning and easterly winds transporting air pollution into the Bay Area from the Central Valley have contributed to high overnight concentrations of fine particle pollution and unhealthy air quality. Although light northerly winds will bring some improvement later in the afternoon and evening, parts of the Bay Area will still experience unhealthy air quality throughout the day. Breezier northeasterly winds will bring more substantial improvement in air quality for Monday.
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Alameda County
Learn about Alameda County - its climate, potential air pollution concerns, and current air quality. You can also view upcoming Air District events in Alameda County and read about local efforts to improve air quality.
Alameda County lies east of the San Francisco Bay, bounded by Contra Costa Bay to the north, San Joaquin County to the east, and Santa Clara County to the south. Four representatives sit on the Air District’s Board of Directors.
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The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is issuing the winter season’s first Spare the Air Alerts for Sunday, December 1, and Monday, December 2, which ban burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.
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Air District asks public to not burn wood over Thanksgiving holidayNovember 26, 2024
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is asking residents to not burn wood over the Thanksgiving holiday to help reduce air pollution and protect public health. As we enter the holiday season, gathering around a fireplace may be a tradition for many, but there are serious health impacts associated with wood burning.
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Air District to host Clean Air Talk in San Lorenzo on December 7November 19, 2024
The Air District will host an in-person conversation with Air District Board Chair Davina Hurt on Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 12 noon – 1 PM at the Greenhouse Community Room in the San Lorenzo Public Library. The conversation will focus on community questions and concerns regarding air quality issues and climate change.
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November 12, 2024
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November 06, 2024
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Other News Articles
Climate
Along the county’s western coast, temperatures are moderated by the bay, which can act as a heat source during cold weather, or cool the air by evaporation during warm weather. It is generally sunnier farther from the coast, although partly cloudy skies are common throughout the summer. Average summer temperatures are mild overnight and moderate during the day. Winter temperatures are cool overnight and mild during the day. Highest temperatures are more common inland. Wind speeds vary throughout the county, with the strongest gusts along the western coast, often aided by dominant westerly winds and a bay-breeze effect. Rainfall totals average about 14 to 23 inches per year, with the highest totals in the northern end of the county and atop the Oakland-Berkeley hills.
Interactive Air Monitoring Stations Map
Air Quality in Alameda County
Ozone and fine particle pollution, or PM2.5, are the major regional air pollutants of concern in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ozone is primarily a problem in the summer, and fine particle pollution in the winter.
In Alameda County west of the East Bay hills, ozone rarely exceeds health standards because the area is adjacent to San Francisco Bay, which tends to keep temperatures well below prime levels for ozone formation. PM2.5 is a more significant issue in this region due to cool winter nights with light winds, wood smoke, and occasional pollution transport from the Livermore Valley to the east.
Eastern Alameda County has the highest ozone levels in the Bay Area, with summer afternoon temperatures frequently approaching triple digits, spurring ozone levels to exceed health standards. In winter, PM2.5 can be transported westward through the Altamont Pass from the Central Valley where it adds to wood smoke levels, causing health standards to be exceeded.
Spare the Air Status
Last Updated: 4/21/2017