Fire & Smoke Home
Air Monitoring Particulate Data
2006 Forest Fire Air Quality Updates
Webcam shots from the last hour (16:23) of 2 fires that just started
One is the Holland peak fire in the Swan Range
and the other fire is
just southeast of Billings that has prompted some evacuations
August 22, 2006
10:00 AM
Current Situation
Today will be hot and smoky. Most of the reporting stations (see Table below) are showing MODERATE smoke conditions this morning. A lot of the smoke is headed up into Canada but there is more smoke in Idaho headed this way. With Red Flag warnings posted, the smoke production today will be a problem for areas downwind of the active fires. Dispersion this afternoon will be very good and without a stagnation problem, smoke impacts should not be severe from the residual smoke. Smoke impacts near the active fires could still be an issue, 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
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 22, 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 | Libby T8 Whitefish T8 Kalispell T8 Missoula T8 Hamilton T8 Helena T8 Butte T8 Great Falls Vis(1) Dillon Vis(1) |
| 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
Transport winds today will be from the south-southwest. This will push the smoke still over the state into Canada. Smoke from the Idaho fires will be pushing into Montana west of the divide today. There will be good dispersion today with clouds and wind and convective activity. This will mix the smoke aloft down to the surface for widespread MODERATE impact in areas with smoke aloft. Other areas will clear out. Smoke will loft out of valleys today so accumulated smoke should not be an issue until tonight. Red flag warnings have been posted for today west of the divide and smoke production could go up significantly. Residents near active fires should stay aware of their situation and use the visibility guidelines to guide their activity decisions as the situation changes.
John Coefield
Meteorologist
MDEQ
