Montana DEQ Forest Fire Smoke Advisory
September 10, 2005
10:00 AM
Current Situation
A vigorous frontal system has cleared the smoke out of all of the areas that were impacted so heavily yesterday. There is still a lot of smoke hanging around under the cloud deck that is making its way out of the state this morning. West Yellowstone was heavily impacted for a couple of hours early this morning as the plume from the big blow up on the Valley Road Fire in Idaho passed through. They are clear now but the 8-hour average is still in the MODERATE range. Glasgow, Wolf Point, Sidney and Miles City have all been seeing some MODERATE levels of smoke this morning as well. Isolated smoke episodes are possible throughout the state today. 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 10, 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 | Phillipsburg (est.) |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | |
| Moderate | Glasgow vis Wolf Point vis Miles City vis Sidney vis West Yellowstone T8 (4) |
| 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
Western Montana should stay clear of smoke all day today. Central and eastern areas will likely see some local effects of the immense plume of smoke put up yesterday as it works out of the state. Fire activity levels in many areas will be minimal today and smoke impacts should not be a problem once the accumulated smoke clears out. Local smoke problems are still possible near the active fires. Residents in those areas should use the visibility guidelines as the situation changes.
John Coefield
Meteorologist
MDEQ
