A rare Level Five air alert has been issued by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District due to heavy wildfire smoke. The District says particulate matter from fires on the coast is so big and thick, it might not even register on their sensors. The advisory meant schools were supposed to fly purple flags Tuesday but the District never sent any out because they would be used so seldom, instead campuses flew their red flags. Air quality should improve somewhat as the week advances.

Sean Michael Lisle