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Air Monitoring Particulate Data
2006 Forest Fire Air Quality Updates
August 17, 2006
10:00 AM
Current Situation
The smoke and haze from yesterday has been cleared out over much of the state as a trough and surface low track across the state. The satellite photo centered on Great Falls shows the cloud mass associated with the low pressure. Some smoke can be seen in the extreme northwest corner of the state that has drifted back into the state from Canada after originating in Washington. There is also some smoke on the southwestern border of the state filtering up from Idaho. Many areas in Montana have received rain and more is on the way today and tonight. Smoke production at all of the Montana fires is much reduced today and there are no known direct impact problems. Washington and southern Idaho did not get any rain and the fires there are still putting out a lot of smoke as can be seen in the bottom satellite photo centered on Spokane. This smoke will be rounding the trough and moving back into the southwestern part of the state tomorrow. MODERATE levels of smoke have already moved into West Yellowstone overnight. See the forecast below for details. Some local impacts may still occur today, residents near a fire 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
Morning satellite photo centered on Spokane
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 17, 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 | |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | |
| Moderate |
West Yellowstone T8 |
| 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
We will have a day of respite today as the rain has cooled all of the current fires in the state significantly. Tomorrow, smoke from the fires in Washington and Idaho will be tracking across the state again for hazy skies and some MODERATE smoke impacts. Smoke could start to be a problem in the southwestern corner of the state later today. 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
