Air Quality Summary Report - Chelan and Methow Valley Fires Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Air Quality Summary Report   -  Chelan and Methow Valley Fires     Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Prepared by: Carolyn Kelly, Air Resource Advisor Trainee (ckelly8384@gmail.com) 

Andrea Holland, Air Resource Advisor (andreahollandsears@gmail.com)

Note: Air monitors in Brewster and Manson are currently in the process of setting up and should begin running by the weeks end. Wednesday: Communities near the fires (Chelan, Manson, Twisp, and Winthrop) will continue to experience periods of unhealthy air quality levels especially early morning and late afternoon as smoke settles into the valleys.  The amount of smoke in Leavenworth and Wenatchee is expected to vary throughout the day reaching moderate air quality levels, with some clearing late tonight.  Smoke may be heavier in Leavenworth. Thursday:  Chelan and Manson may see periods of increased smoke throughout the day but overall air quality will remain in the unhealthy range. Winthrop and Twisp may see varying levels of smoke with overall air quality at the unhealthy level. For Leavenworth and Wenatchee, some smoke may continue to linger but should clear out starting in the morning. Friday: Chelan and Manson will still see smoke with potential for a decrease as the day goes on. Winthrop and Twisp may see some clearer skies earlier in the day but smoke is expected to return into the afternoon. Some smoke may return in the morning for Leavenworth and Wenatchee. Weekend Outlook: A frontal passage is expected to pass through the area Friday night and through Saturday bringing breezy winds and some rain.  This will provide communities downwind of the fires some relief from smoke and good air quality.
Site	August 26 Air quality – Wednesday	August 27 Air Quality – Thursday	August 28 Air Quality – Friday	Comments
Chelan	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Depending on smoke released from fires today, Chelan and Manson may see levels above unhealthy.
Manson	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Very Unhealthy
		V. Unhealthy	Unhealthy
Winthrop	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Unhealthy
Twisp	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Unhealthy
Leavenworth	Moderate	Moderate	Good
		Good
Wenatchee	Moderate	Moderate	Good
		Good
Disclaimer: Conditions may change quickly. These predictions are based on anticipated weather and fire activity.  The air quality outlook is based on data from automated instruments that have not been subjected to a quality assurance review. AQI’s estimated for sites with air monitors.

Webcam looking up Lake Chelan  http://www.fsvisimages.com/fstemplate.aspx?site=okwe3_fire1

For up to date information about smoke in Washington State, visit http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/