Air Quality Outlook for Sunday-Tuesday, August 17-19, 2014

Smoke Synopsis:

Warmer and drier conditions continue today and tomorrow.  If we see any increase in fire activity, it will most likely be later this afternoon through Monday.  There is still a chance that the increased winds associated with the cold frontal passage on Tuesday could fire up some smoldering spots, but fire crews are working hard until then to take care of known hot spots. Some very slightly elevated readings (still in the good category) were noticed mid-morning downwind (east of) the Hansel, Snag Canyon and South Cle Elum Ridge fires at the monitoring stations located in Ellensburg, Leavenworth and Wenatchee.  Skies were just a touch hazy and light smoke odors could be noticed in some locations, although no plumes were evident.  Just something to keep an eye on. Likewise, the Keller and Highway 21 corridor continues to see a morning peak in smoke before clearing out quite nicely every afternoon as winds switch to an up-canyon flow. Colville and Wellpinit areas are likewise seeing some slight increases as the more typical wind pattern slowly moves everything being produced (fire-generated smoke as well as anything else) to the east.

Air Quality Outlook:
Site	Sunday August 17, 2014		Monday August 18, 2014		Tuesday August 19, 2014		Comments
Colville	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Wellpinit	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Keller	Moderate		USG		Good
Omak	Moderate		Moderate		Good
Malott	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Brewster	Good		Good		Moderate
Winthrop	Good		Good		Moderate
Twisp	Good		Good		Moderate
Chelan	Good		Good		Good
Entiat	Good		Good		Good
Plain	Good		Good		Good
Leavenworth	Good		Moderate		Good
Wenatchee	Good		Good		Good
Ellensburg	Good		Moderate		Good
Yakima	Good		Good		Good
NOTE – in table above “USG” stands for “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” For detailed information about the color coded air quality categories, please see:  Washington Air Quality Advisory for Smoke and Other Fine Particle Air Pollution En Español:  El Índice de la Calidad de Aire de Washington para Humo y Otra Contaminación del Aire causadas por Partículas Finas
Warning: These data have been obtained from automated instruments and have not been subjected to a quality assurance review to determine their accuracy. They are presented for public awareness and should not be considered final. Conditions such as power outages and equipment malfunctions can produce invalid data.
1 Since wildfires often occur in remote areas, air monitoring equipment may not be available. The following table provides a quick method to assess air quality in your area. For more detailed information you can go to the following site: http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/burning/wildfires/visibility.htm
Using the 5-3-1 Visibility Index
Distance you can see*		Your are:						You have:
		·  An adult ·  A teenager ·  An older child		·  Age 65 and over ·  Pregnant ·  A young child		OR		·  Asthma ·  Respiratory illness ·  Lung or heart disease
5 miles		check visibility		minimize outdoor activity
3 miles		minimize outdoor activity		stay inside
1 miles		stay inside		stay inside
No matter how far you can see, if you feel like you are having health effects from smoke exposure, take extra care to stay inside or get to an area with better air quality.  You should also see your doctor or other health professional as needed.
* less reliable under high humidity conditions