Currently, the focus for thunderstorms is over the Cascade
and northern mountains with potential for lightning to start new fires. Moving
into the week, temperatures are expected to drop to average or slightly below,
midweek.
Smoke conditions throughout the state have improved with
most areas West of the Cascades showing GOOD air quality and MODERATE levels to
the East. The Gorge will see some clearing as westerly winds push through the
area with localized areas of smoke pooling nearest to the Williams Mine, Whisky
Creek, and Sandstone Fires. Central Washington is expecting GOOD to MODERATE levels of smoke as well, due to a possible decrease in fire activity.
An Air Quality Alert remains in effect for all of Yakima County
(excluding the Yakama Reservation) due to wildfires burning in the region. For
more information, visit: https://www.yakimacleanair.org/
The EPA has also issued an Air Quality Advisory for the
Yakama Reservation beginning August 1st until further notice due to
elevated levels of smoke from area fires. For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/farr/burn-bans-indian-reservations-id-or-and-wa
Hello... The last few weeks, western Washington's PM2.5 counts have been rising moderately whenever the wind goes stagnant. (Like this morning, 8/14) What is this particulate?
ReplyDelete* It doesn't appear to be wildfire smoke blowing in from the east.
* It doesn't seem to happen any other time of year, including in June, which makes me doubt that it's vehicular/industrial exhaust.
* I believe ozone generation is spurred on by the heat/light of summer, but it's a gas, and to my knowledge wouldn't contribute to PM2.5.
What am I missing? Thank you for your answer, and for maintaining this blog!
Best guess is that it's normal industrial/vehicular/background PM2.5 that is now reported as MODERATE since the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5 were reduced to 9.
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