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Air Monitoring Particulate Data
2006 Forest Fire Air Quality Updates
August 29, 2006
10:00 AM
Current Situation
Particulate levels in western Montana have been steadily rising as hot, dry, windy weather has increased fire activity levels and west and southwest winds have pushed the smoke over the border. Missoula is at UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS and Kalispell, Hamilton, Helena and Butte are all at MODERATE levels this morning. More smoke is on the way today but change is on the way. See the forecast below for details. Locally, the Ulm Peak fire south of Noxon, and the Derby fire south of Big Timber are expected to be causing problems today. Residents near those and other active fires 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 29, 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 | Missoula T24 |
| Moderate | Kalispell T8 Hamilton T8 Helena T8 Butte 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
Winds will be from the west to southwest today ahead of a strong frontal passage that will bring in northwest winds tomorrow. Red Flag warnings have been posted for hot, dry and windy conditions in front of the cooler air mass. This will both produce a lot more smoke from the active fires and bring the smoke into Montana. Smoky and hazy skies are expected most areas today and with the good dispersion, local smoke impacts at the surface are likely under the thickest parts of the smoke plumes aloft. Tomorrow will see a big change with cooler temps and higher humidities expected to reduce smoke production and provide cleaner air. If no significant change in the fire pattern in the northwest occurs, smoke levels Wednesday and Thursday will be much improved. Today, residents are strongly cautioned to stay aware of local conditions and use the visibility guidelines to guide their activity decisions as the situation changes.
John Coefield
Meteorologist
MDEQ
