The B.C. Canada government declared a state of emergency today (Wednesday 8/15/18) due to wildfires. Approximately 566 wildfires are burning in B.C, with 29 evacuation orders affecting approximately 3,050 people. An additional 18,720 people are under evacuation alert. This is the second year in a row our neighbors to the north have been inundated with fire and smoke and some of that smoke has been heading south to Washington and beyond.
The best air quality models that predict smoke movement and accumulation in the Pacific Northwest, don't include fires and smoke from that far north. Other models do include the fires in Canada although their resolution is not as good so predicting air quality impacts in Washington as affected by smoke from Canada is rather challenging. The satellite photo below, taken yesterday (Tuesday) shows the red "hot spots" marking the large areas of fire in B.C. Fires in Washington can also be seen to the south. Note the magnitude of the smoke accumulation just north of the international border. We've already received some smoke from the north, how much more will travel to Washington in the coming days?
Another satellite photo from yesterday got a really clear view of fires and smoke around Washington. Plumes from the Crescent Mountain and McLeod fires are clearly visible north of Lake Chelan in the Methow Valley area, and the Cougar Creek plume is visible to the south of Lake Chelan closer to the center of the state. Large image available at the link:
ModisAqua8_14
Trying to decide Hannegin Pass in the N. Cascades or theHoh rainforest/Great Divide on theOlympic peninsula for tomorrow. Which is likely to have the best air quality?
ReplyDeleteI think air quality is likely to be a bit better on the Olympic Peninsula. Although this BC smoke keeps fooling us.
DeleteDidn't you say that winds expected Wednesday afternoon would help blow the smoke away (east)? Can you give us some forecast as to when winds will pick up?
ReplyDeleteYes! We keep thinking the smoke will clear out of Western WA, and we did have some wind yesterday, but more smoke from Canada keeps draining in from the North.
DeleteSo, it will get worse before it gets better?
ReplyDeleteThe National Weather Service is predicting onshore winds and better air tomorrow for Western WA. Let's hope they are right. https://www.weather.gov/sew/
DeletePlease note that the monitors in SW Wa are kinda wonky right now. While it color-codes as orange, the actual particle count is in the red, unhealthy range. Earlier, it was mis-reporting the color as hazardous. Just an FYI that you can't always rely on the colored dots!
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that the colors do not represent just the most recent hour. The colors use a Nowcast averaging method which weights the most recent hour heavily, but also uses previous hours. Also, the color coded WAQA values were developed to represent daily average concentrations, not hourly. So, while it may say "Unhealthy" on the map, that is more like a guide, rather than an official value.
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