What's the status of the air quality in Palm Desert/LaQuinta region? (Los Angeles: allergies, live)

[12buttons]

When I lived in Santa Monica, the rule of thumb was 15 miles in from the coast the air was slightly better..any parts of Riverside and San Bernadino counties where the air is better? My husband goes nuts when the Santa Annas blow our way (LA)...he sneezes like crazy - is it always that way out there?
what times of day are the best for outdoor activities?

Thanks!

[Twinkle Toes]

Air quality here is superb. But they do scalp the golf courses in October so for about a month, if you have allergies, you will be kind of miserable. We don't get any smog or fog. It can't seem to make its way over the mountains. I drive into Riverside almost everyday and our valley will be gorgeous and nice weather, but when I get out to the Cabazon area it will be very different and you can see/feel the change.

[gottgreen]

For any and all information about the green and sustainable happenings in the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio, etc.) then go to Coachella Valley Green - Home It is a free resource for local residents and businesses.

[HikingBikingSwimming]

Maybe in the distant past the air quality was better. But, unfortunately the air is bad because smog blows through the pass from the LA area. You can check the air daily, and historical averages at these links:

Air Quality Maps

AIRNow - Air Quality Conditions & Forecasts - Coachella Vly, CA

The Coachella Valley is one of the worst air quality districts in the nation and special research is going on here.

[Twinkle Toes]

Originally Posted by HikingBikingSwimming

Maybe in the distant past the air quality was better. But, unfortunately the air is bad because smog blows through the pass from the LA area. You can check the air daily, and historical averages at these links:

Air Quality Maps

AIRNow - Air Quality Conditions & Forecasts - Coachella Vly, CA

The Coachella Valley is one of the worst air quality districts in the nation and special research is going on here.

I beg to differ. I actually live here in the valley. We have NO smog here. Our air quality is superb.

EDIT: As a matter of fact, I just checked your sources and they are showing the air quality in the Coachella Valley to be very good. I am glad you posted those sites for us to check. You might want to check them yourself.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Twinkle Toes

I beg to differ. I actually live here in the valley. We have NO smog here. Our air quality is superb.

EDIT: As a matter of fact, I just checked your sources and they are showing the air quality in the Coachella Valley to be very good. I am glad you posted those sites for us to check. You might want to check them yourself.

The previous poster's map only showed the forcast for ONE DAY.

The fact of the matter is that the Coachella Valley does NOT have superb air quality. Yes, it's better than what they have in Riverside and maybe even Los Angeles....and the long term trend is that air quality is improving all over SoCal as well as in the US more generally.

However, the Coachella Valley still has quite a few days that exceed the Federal air quality standards.

Historical Data

[Twinkle Toes]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

The previous poster's map only showed the forcast for ONE DAY.

The fact of the matter is that the Coachella Valley does NOT have superb air quality. Yes, it's better than what they have in Riverside and maybe even Los Angeles....and the long term trend is that air quality is improving all over SoCal as well as in the US more generally.

However, the Coachella Valley still has quite a few days that exceed the Federal air quality standards.

Historical Data

I checked your site and there are very few days out of each of those years that the air quality has been moderate or less than superb. There is still no data to suggest that Coachella Valley air quality is "bad" or "the worst in the nation" or "horrible". We do not have smog in the CV and I'd say our air quality is pretty damn good compared to most places. In fact, I'd classify our air quality as "superb".

[FresnoFacts]

Try these sources from the state of California ARB for air quality info.

They show the number of days annually that different air quality monitors exceeded the state and federal standards for ozone during the last 20 years. Ozone is the main constituent of smog.

Palm Springs (measured at the fire station)
2008 - 51 days over the federal standard
2007 - 58 days over the federal standard
2006 - 61 days over the federal standard
AQDSITEMYR Display

Compare that to Fresno (measured at Sierra SkyPark on Herndon Avenue)
2008 - 39 days over the federal standard
2007 - 18 days over the federal standard
2006 - 54 days over the federal standard
AQDSITEMYR Display

Or even compare it to Bakersfield (measured near Stockdale Highway and Highway 99)
2008 - 40 days over the federal standard
2007 - 25 days over the federal standard
2006 - 79 days over the federal standard
AQDSITEMYR Display

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

Try these sources from the state of California ARB for air quality info.

They show the number of days annually that different air quality monitors exceeded the state and federal standards for ozone during the last 20 years. Ozone is the main constituent of smog.

Palm Springs (measured at the fire station)
2008 - 51 days over the federal standard
2007 - 58 days over the federal standard
2006 - 61 days over the federal standard
AQDSITEMYR Display

Compare that to Fresno (measured at Sierra SkyPark on Herndon Avenue)
2008 - 39 days over the federal standard
2007 - 18 days over the federal standard
2006 - 54 days over the federal standard
AQDSITEMYR Display

Or even compare it to Bakersfield (measured near Stockdale Highway and Highway 99)
2008 - 40 days over the federal standard
2007 - 25 days over the federal standard
2006 - 79 days over the federal standard
AQDSITEMYR Display

Thanks FresnoFacts. Your data are better than mine and speak for themselves.

[stillkit]

The air quality in the valley is only better because they put up those big fans around Whitewater to blow the smog back into LA. When it gets really, really hot, they turn them around to cool Palm Springs.