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Air Monitoring Particulate Data

2006 Forest Fire Air Quality Updates

August 24, 2006
10:00 AM

Current Situation

Thick smoke is covering the south half of Montana this morning with UNHEALTHY levels right now in Dillon and Butte. UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS levels of smoke are being recorded in Hamilton, Helena, and Bozeman. MODERATE levels of smoke are present just about everywhere else. See the table below for details. Locally, smoke levels could be VERY UNHEALTHY or even HAZARDOUS this morning with little improvement expected today in many areas. See the forecast below for details. Residents near active fires are cautioned to 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 23 at 11:45 AM 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 24, 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
Dillon Vis(8)
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Hamilton T8
Helena T8
Bozeman Vis(3)
Moderate Libby T8
Whitefish T8
Kalispell T8
Polson T8
Missoula T8
West Yellowstone T8
Billings 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 west-northwesterly. This will help clear the smoke somewhat across the northern tier of the state but little improvement is expected in the southern third of the state. Dispersion today will be poor with high pressure and light winds. The mixing height is expected to reach the smoke aloft and this will bring smoke down to the surface in areas downwind of active fires. Valleys with active fires could see dangerous levels of particulate with some terrain trapping. Tomorrow may see some wind out of the north and that may help clear the air by afternoon. Residents near active fires are strongly cautioned to pay attention to their situation and use the visibility guidelines to guide their activity decisions as the situation changes.

John Coefield
Meteorologist
MDEQ