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Air Monitoring Particulate Data
2006 Forest Fire Air Quality Updates
August 26, 2006
10:00 AM
Current Situation
The Big Sky will be blue again today over Montana. There were wetting rains over many of the fires in the region and fire activity levels everywhere are much reduced. There are no reports of adverse smoke impacts at any of the reporting stations. It will be sunny and dry today in most areas; however, smoke levels could start to increase in some locations. See the forecast below for details. Some local smoke issues are still likely near active fires, residents in those areas are advised 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
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 26, 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 | |
| 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 ridge of high pressure is moving in from the northwest today. This will produce northerly and northwesterly transport winds. With lots of sun and warmer temperatures, fire activity will start to ramp up again this afternoon and tomorrow. Smoke from Idaho will be headed our way again on Sunday, but today there should only be a few areas of local smoke impact from adjacent fires. Residents near active fires are 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
