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Air quality in Lake Tahoe ranks worst in North America right now

By KTVU staff
Updated  August 24, 2021 6:26am PDT
Wildfires
KTVU FOX 2

Lake Tahoe has worst air in North America

On Tuesday morning, Lake Tahoe had the worst air quality in North America because of wildfire smoke.

TAHOE CITY, Calif. - The air quality in the Lake Tahoe Area on Tuesday morning was considered the worst in all of North America.

Air quality experts say the smoke from the Caldor Fire in El Dorado county has created dangerous, toxic air.

This week, readings on AirNow showed a 620 AQI in Tahoe City. The Air Quality Index goes up to 500. Anything above 500 is labeled as "beyond index."

But those same tests show the air quality in Tahoe has been changing almost daily during the past month, due largely to the winds. And there are still blue skies, and clear air, on many days around the lake.

MORE: Newsom requests presidential disaster declaration for California wildfires

Caldor Fire a top priority

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This story was reported in Oakland, Calif.