10/08/12 Wildfire Smoke Forecast 0800 PDT Update

Ecology Air Quality Report : We will no longer be wrapping up the current values you can find info about Current Air Quality on our Clickable Map: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/air_monitoring_data/WAQA_Intro_Page.html

Central Washington Air Quality Report from Forest Service Temporary Monitor Locations

  ·         Cashmere-  Unhealthy

  ·         Cle Elum- Moderate

  ·         Entiat- Unhealthy

  ·         Pateros -Good

  ·         Quincy – Good

  ·         Trout Lake- Unhealthy

Air Quality forecast, 8AM Monday 8 October 2012
Issued by Ranil Dhammapala, Washington State Dept. of Ecology

Light winds did not allow for much clearing over the last day. Some modest late morning/ afternoon clearing occurred in many areas, but those gains were either wiped out or not further improved upon overnight. Air quality in Wenatchee, Omak, Entiat, Cashmere, Trout Lake and Clarkston are all Unhealthy this morning, while Leavenworth, Ellensburg, Chelan and Pullman are recording Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Other monitors statewide are almost evenly split between Good and Moderate air.

Wildfire smoke impacts on western WA yesterday were small. Idaho wildfire smoke continued to impact the Palouse and Lewis-Clark valley in moderate amounts. In addition locally generated woodsmoke is measurable at many sites across the state.

Easterly winds are gone and unlikely to return this week. Monday & Tuesday should see mostly calm-to-mild winds driven by local terrain. Areas of eastern WA should see a short-lived uptick in northerly winds this afternoon, that will help with dispersion.

For several days now models have been advertizing a change to more typical October weather (i.e. cooler and wetter), starting around the coming weekend. Don’t expect the wildfires to be doused this work week. Though firefighters have been making great progress, fires continue to smolder in spite of being almost contained.

Areas closest to the fires will see Unhealthy air. It will be a mixture of Good, Moderate and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in other areas, with nighttime and morning smoke and some daytime clearing.

The National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert for Douglas, Chelan and Kittitas Counties:
http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20quality%20alert

The Governor's office has extended the burn ban to cover all Washington Counties through midnight Monday October 15th. The Governor’s proclamation (http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1980&newsType=1 ) allows for local fire departments to issue written permits that approve specific burning activities.  Please work with your local fire jurisdiction and your Ecology burn team staff to get the needed written authorization for specific agricultural burns. In some areas, air quality concerns or local fire danger may preclude burning during this extraordinary wildfire event.

Thanks