High Pressure Podcast

Numerous wildfires are impacting air quality across the United States and Canada. In the latest High Pressure Podcast, Sonoma Technology meteorologists break down where the smoke is and what regions may have smoke impacts this weekend.To watch the video version of this podcast, visit https://youtu.be/p4hdcrump-I.

For the second consecutive year, early season wildfires in Canada have sent smoke into the United States. Will this smoky trend continue for summer 2024? Sonoma Technology meteorologists preview the weather and air quality outlook.To watch the video version of this episode, visit https://youtu.be/m7juZjHhXgA.

On April 13, 2024, a cloudy, cool, rainy day resulted in high ozone AQI levels in the Sacramento region. Sonoma Technology scientists discuss this unusual air quality event, known as a stratospheric ozone intrusion.To watch the video version of this episode, visit https://youtu.be/aRF_ceYrcng.

Sonoma Tech meteorologists discuss the weather and air quality conditions in northeastern Ohio during winter 2022-23, including high AQI days and who won the burrito bet from episode #15!

Will poor air quality impact your holiday weekend plans? Sonoma Tech meteorologists have a forecast breakdown for the unprecedented smoke event impacting the eastern U.S.To view the video version of the podcast, visit https://youtu.be/l8Obz_uoWDc.

Forest fires have been raging across western Canada this week, and wildfire smoke is impacting portions of the United States. Sonoma Tech meteorologists break down where the smoke is heading this weekend and how weather conditions have played a role in the above-average wildfire activity in Canada.To view the video version of this podcast, visit https://youtu.be/JJ4cwS5JhWU.

On April 14, 2023, the Youngstown-Warren region recorded its earliest Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) ozone day in 13 years. Sonoma Technology meteorologists discuss how weather and long-range pollutant transport influenced this rare USG April event.To watch the video version of this podcast, visit https://youtu.be/RsT_Eh9k16A.

Sonoma Technology meteorologists recap air quality conditions in the Youngstown-Warren region during summer 2022, including what weather conditions led to high AQI days, and what notable streak ended on the 4th of July.Click here to view the complete summer 2022 report for the Mahoning Valley.

In the last of a two-part series on wintertime pollution in the Mahoning Valley, Sonoma Tech meteorologists preview the winter 2022-23 weather forecast & how conditions may influence air quality in the Youngstown-Warren region.To see the video version of this podcast, visit https://youtu.be/veBwCxqVXuk.

In the first of a two-part series on wintertime pollution in the Mahoning Valley, Sonoma Tech meteorologists break down the causes and weather patterns responsible for high AQI levels during the winter in Youngstown-Warren.For the video version of this podcast, visit https://youtu.be/lWQ27f-nPQM. 

Every spring, land managers in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas intentionally set thousands of acres of grassland on fire. Sonoma Technology meteorologists discuss why they burn, what impacts these fires have on surrounding communities, and what role Sonoma Tech plays during the burn season.For the video version of this podcast, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZwOukXWTqw

Sonoma Technology meteorologists are proud to be presenters at the 2021 AGU Fall Meeting, where they will discuss their findings in smoke and dust forecasting. In their poster, they highlight a series of high particle pollution events, including a look back on forecasting the 2020 Godzilla African dust event that impacted the Gulf Coast.To view the poster being referenced in this podcast, click here.

In the final installment of the wintertime air pollution series, Sonoma Tech meteorologists discuss the difficulties in forecasting fine particles (known as PM2.5) during the winter, and why the public should pay close attention to wintertime PM2.5 forecasts.

In the first of a two-part series on wintertime air pollution, Sonoma Tech meteorologists explain why pollution of fine particles (known as PM2.5) is common during the winter months, and what winter weather patterns can influence PM2.5 AQI levels.

Sonoma Tech meteorologists help make sense of the Air Quality Index, also known as the AQI. Here's a breakdown of the AQI categories, why AQI forecasts are important, and what goes into the NowCast AQI values you see on AirNow.gov.

In January 2020, Sonoma Technology meteorologists attended the 100th annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society in Boston. During their visit, they were invited on the "AMS on the Air" podcast by host Dakota Smith. Here is that episode, which highlights air quality forecasting and other air quality projects Sonoma Tech's been involved with.

In recognition of EPA's "Air Quality Awareness Week", Sonoma Tech meteorologists have a three-part discussion on smoke forecasting. The final installment in this series focuses on the summer 2021 forecast and what weather factors are generating the elevated fire danger across the western United States.

In recognition of EPA's "Air Quality Awareness Week", Sonoma Tech meteorologists have a three-part discussion on smoke forecasting. The second installment discusses why smoke forecasting can be challenging and what tools can aid meteorologists in decision-making support.

In recognition of EPA's "Air Quality Awareness Week", Sonoma Tech meteorologists have a three-part discussion on smoke forecasting. The first installment focuses on first-hand stories and experiences in forecasting wildfire smoke.

On April 9th, 2021, the La Soufrière volcano began to erupt on the island of St. Vincent. Sonoma Tech meteorologists discuss how the volcano is impacting air quality in the Caribbean and globally. 

Why does smoke turn the sky red? What causes air pollution? These were some of the questions Bay Area students asked the High Pressure Podcast during an October episode of #SonomaKidsAsk on 91.3 FM. This segment's primary goal is to provide an additional science lesson, at a time when distance and modified learning have impacted children and teachers alike.

It's an end of summer tradition, where Nevada's Black Rock Desert transforms into a thriving art and culture hub. But "Burning Man" is also known for producing poor air quality. Meteorologists Patrick Zahn, Hilary Minor, Jeff Beamish, and Marcus Hylton examine the health effect "Burning Man" has on its participants, and ways people attending can protect themselves from harmful particulate matter.

If it's summer, it's peak time for ground-level ozone. Meteorologists Patrick Zahn, Jeff Beamish, and Marcus Hylton discuss how ozone forms, why it peaks in summer, and ways Sonoma Technology forecasts ozone.

On May 16, 2019, a severe dust event generated Unhealthy air quality in Imperial Valley, California. In the debut episode of the High Pressure Podcast, meteorologists Patrick Zahn and Jeff Beamish analyze the weather and air quality conditions that triggered this event.