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Air Monitoring Particulate Data
2006 Forest Fire Air Quality Updates
August 23, 2006
10:00 AM
Current Situation
Smoke levels are elevated across the state today. Butte and the Corvallis area are at UNHEALTHY levels this morning. Helena and Dillon are at UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS and almost all of the other reporting stations on the table below are at MODERATE levels. Locally UNHEALTHY levels are likely in many areas today. Smoke from the Emerald Hills fire east of Billings and a big fire south of Big Timber is streaming across the southern part of eastern Montana this morning causing widespread impacts there. Today will be hot and smoky in most areas ahead of a weak frontal system, see the forecast below for details. With red flag warnings posted over the entire state and smoke pouring over the Idaho border, smoke impacts need attention today. All residents 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
MODIS image from Aug 22 at 2:18 PM MDT
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 23, 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 | Butte T24 Corvallis area (est) |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | Dillon Vis(12) Helena T24 Northern Bitterroot Valley |
| Moderate | Libby T8 Whitefish T8 Kalispell T8 Polson T8 Missoula T8 Hamilton T8 Helena T8 Butte T8 Great Falls Vis(1) Baker 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 generally westerly. A pacific front pushing in will bring more wind and better dispersion. It will also move the smoke from the Idaho fires a little south of their current impact area. This along with the fires in the state will leave southwest, south central and southeastern Montana in thick smoke through tomorrow at least. Visibility in the Dillon and Butte area is very poor and that smoke is head east towards Bozeman, Livingston, Big Timber, Billings, Hardin and Ekalaka. The sky will stay hazy over most of the state today. Fire activity levels are expected to increase today with the red flag warning posted and UNHEALTHY smoke levels are likely in many areas. All residents need to stay aware of their situation and use the visibility guidelines to guide their activity decisions as the situation changes.
John Coefield
Meteorologist
MDEQ
