Montana DEQ Forest Fire Smoke Advisory
September 2, 2005
10:00 AM
Current Situation
Smoke aloft is abundant across the state this morning. Smoke from yesterday's fires has formed a large plume in the upper air that is now moving off across eastern Montana. UNHEALTHY levels of smoke are expected in the Clark Fork Valley area around Plains and Perma and north to Hot Springs from the Seepay fire where there is lot of trapped smoke visible on this morning's satellite photo. There are strong inversion in the valleys of western and Southwestern Montana this morning and that is keeping smoke from distant fires from mixing down to the surface. MODERATE conditions are currently present in Whitefish, Kalispell, Hamilton, and Helena. Polson is also expected to be seeing at least MODERATE conditions along with the rest of the southern Flathead and Jocko valleys. Red Flag warnings for low humidity and strong southwest winds and some mostly dry thunderstorms have been posted today and fire activity is expected to flare again this afternoon. See the forecast below for information about what to expect later today and tomorrow.
Today's analysis from NOAA's satellite services division shows the active fires in the Northwest US and Canada and the smoke plumes spreading out downwind and layering on top of each other.
Gray indicates smoke plume.
Red indicates hot spot detected.
Fire size is exaggerated for visibility at this scale
To identify individual fires on graphic above go to the USDA - Remote Sensing Applications Center
Real time particulate information is currently available in most of the larger urban areas from several different sources including: DEQ run PM-10 TEOMS and BAMS and PM2.5 BAMS, NWS ASOS visibility monitors, and USFS remote access Nephelometers and BAMS .
This morning's smoke report is below, comparing particulate levels where we have information to MDEQ's Forest Fire health advisory levels.
Updated 10:00 AM September 2, 2005
Locations and severity of forest fire smoke reports since midnight of the date above at reporting stations.
| Smoke Conditions | City |
|---|---|
| Hazardous | |
| Very Unhealthy | |
| Unhealthy | Plains/Perma/Hot Springs area (est.) |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | |
| Moderate | Whitefish
T8 (5), T24 (5) Kalispell T8 (5), T24 (5) Polson (est.) Hamilton T8 (2), T24 (5) Helena T8 (3), T24 (5) |
| Good | |
|
T1(x) |
One-hour TEOM value (number of values) |
| T8(x) | Eight-hour average TEOM value(number of values) |
| T24 | 24 hour average TEOM value |
| Vis(x) | Visibility value(number of hours) |
| Vis(am/pm) | Visibility value from twice/day reporting stations |
Local impacts in areas immediately adjacent to active fires are expected to exceed some or all of the advisory levels. DEQ recommends the use of local visibility guidelines to evaluate possible health risks and make informed activity decisions. Link to Smoke Categories.
Forecast
Another smoky day is on tap for western Montana. Smoke levels may improve temporarily in the areas immediately adjacent to the active fires later this afternoon as the inversions lift and we get some better dispersion. Smoke levels will increase this afternoon in areas under smoke plume aloft as southwest transport winds mix the smoke down to the surface. There will be lots of haze in the skies for the rest of the state as well and we should get some spectacular sunsets this evening. Residents in areas with active fires and those under the plumes should use the visibility guidelines as the situation changes.
John Coefield
Meteorologist
MDEQ
