Montana DEQ Forest Fire Smoke Advisory
September 7, 2005
10:00 AM
Current Situation
Smoke is obscuring the south end of the Bitterroot Valley and the area around Phillipsburg this morning. There is also a lot of smoke drifting off across the middle of the state producing hazy conditions but no significant surface impacts. Smoke levels at Darby are only MODERATE now. The rest of the reporting stations are all in the GOOD range at this time. Smoke impacts are expected to increase through the end of the week but change may be on the way. 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 7, 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 | |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | |
| Moderate | Darby/Philipsburg (est) |
| 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
Fire activity is expected to increase this afternoon and tomorrow as warmer temperatures and some wind arrives in the state ahead of a trough forecast for the weekend. Afternoon mixing will be bringing the smoke down to the surface and most areas under the plume should see at least MODERATE levels of smoke later today. Smoke impacts in the areas near active fires could be at UNHEALTHY levels or worse. Transport winds will be generally from the west today before switching around more to the southwest Thursday. This will push the smoke into the Helena, Butte, Bozeman, and Dillon areas in southwest Montana this afternoon and up into the Missoula and Kalispell areas tomorrow. Residents in areas with smoke impacts should use the visibility guidelines as the situation changes.
John Coefield
Meteorologist
MDEQ
