Montana DEQ Forest Fire Smoke Advisory
September 8, 2005
10:00 AM
Current Situation
Another smoky day is on tap this morning. Smoke is trapped under the morning inversions in the south end of the Bitterroot Valley near Darby, the Rock Creek and Flint Creek Valleys near Phillipsburg and the North Fork of the Sun River Valley west of Choteau. MODERATE levels of smoke are reported in Kalispell, Missoula, Hamilton and Helena. Butte is at UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE after a very smoky day yesterday. Smoke levels in the areas near the active fires are expected to be UNHEALTHY or worse. Most of the smoke from yesterday's fires is well overhead this morning and not causing more than a persistent haze. The smoke is expected to mix down the surface this afternoon and more intense fire activity levels are expected as well. 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 8, 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 | Butte T24
(7) Darby Neph (8) |
| Moderate | Kalispell
T24 (7) Missoula T8 (7), T24 (7) Hamilton T8 (7), T24 (7) Helena T8 (7), T24 (7) Butte T8 (7) |
| 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
Smoke production is expected to increase today and tomorrow ahead of an oncoming trough of low pressure forecast for the weekend. Smoke and haze will continue to be a problem today. Transport winds are from the west to the southwest and will be switching even more to the south over the next 36 hours as the front approaches. This will send more smoke into Montana from the fires in Idaho and will also start to push smoke back into the northwest corner of the state. Afternoon mixing will be bringing the smoke down to the surface and most areas under the plumes 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. Butte, Helena, Hamilton, and Missoula are all expected to see a lot of smoke by this evening. Residents in areas with smoke impacts should use the visibility guidelines as the situation changes.
John Coefield
Meteorologist
MDEQ
