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Air Monitoring Particulate Data
2006 Forest Fire Air Quality Updates
August 13, 2006
10:00 AM
Current Situation
There is smoke visible in the northern Bitterroot Valley from the Gash Creek fire this morning and smoke conditions near there are still expected to be UNHEALTHY. The rest of the state is seeing blue sky and a pretty day. There is a huge plume of residual smoke aloft over Washington and Idaho visible in the satellite photo centered on Spokane below. That smoke will head this way today along with fresh smoke from the fires in Idaho. See the forecast below for details. Local impacts from the smaller fires in the state are still likely, residents near those fires should pay attention to current conditions and use the VISIBILITY GUIDELINES to determine smoke levels in their area and guide their activity decisions.
Morning satellite photo centered on Great Falls
Webcams
Red Eagle MT from St. Mary Visitor Center
The Big Mountain Ski area webcam near Whitefish
The DEQ webcam looking north to the "Sleeping Giant" mountain
This morning’s analysis from NOAA’s satellite services division shows the active fires in Montana and the smoke plumes combining and spreading downwind (the analyzed smoke is based on yesterday’s satellite coverage, the fire detects are based on last nights satellite coverage).
Red indicates hot spot detected. Grey represents smoke seen by satellite. Fire
size is exaggerated for visibility at this scale. To identify individual fires on graphic above go
here: http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/lg_fire2.php
Real time particulate information is currently available in most of the larger urban areas from several different sources including: DEQ run PM-10 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. Smoke Categories
Updated 10:00 AM August 13, 2006
Locations and severity of forest fire smoke reports since midnight of the date above at reporting stations.
| Smoke Conditions | City |
|---|---|
| Hazardous | |
| Very Unhealthy | |
| Unhealthy | Gash Creek (est) |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | |
| Moderate |
|
| 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.
Forecast
A northwest flow will move across the state today as a ridge builds in. This will carry the smoke over Washington into western and northwestern Montana by this afternoon and evening. Most of the smoke from Idaho will head into Wyoming but extreme southwest Montana will see some smoke from there as well. The smoke will mix down to the surface and should produce at least MODERATE levels of smoke under the plume. Local impacts near active fires will also need attention. Residents should stay aware of their situation and use the visibility guidelines to guide their activity decisions as the situation changes.
John Coefield
Meteorologist
MDEQ
