Wind data

Why this matters?

The homepage has a map of air quality sensors in downtown Benicia. The sensors measure PM2.5 and are useful for identifying dangerous amounts of wildfire smoke, exhaust smoke, and some refinery emissions.

Although wet scrubbers reduce the Benicia Refinery's emission of PM2.5, this can still be an issue. The direction of the wind is the largest variable dictating the effect of Benicia Refinery PM2.5 emissions on the residents of Benicia. The wind data below gives a basic breakdown of seasonal wind patterns in Benicia.

Want to learn more?

  • This report from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District models the effect of PM2.5 particulate from the Martinez refinery. The Martinez refinery does not have wet scrubbers installed, so the PM2.5 particulate out of this facility is higher than the Benicia refinery. The effect of PM2.5 on the community has caused a recent debate about how the state should regulate other Bay Area refineries.

  • For more detail on the air quality monitoring of other compounds, check out the Air Quality page.

With the Benicia Refinery less than 1.5 miles to the Northwest from downtown Benicia, the wind direction dictates whether refinery smoke blows towards or away from Benicia.

  • In downtown Benicia, the wind is mostly from the west from mid-February to mid-November (for 9 months a year).

  • From mid-November to mid-February (winter) the wind is out of the north about 40% of the time.

All said, it is unlikely for refinery emissions to blow into downtown Benicia for 9 months of the year, but during the winter months, it can happen occasionally.

Average Wind Direction in Benicia

Average Wind Speed in Benicia

How much PM2.5 does the Benicia Refinery emit? (Answer: about 81 tons)