8/5/2014 New webcams watching fires and smoke

The Forest Service has placed two portable, solar powered webcams out at strategic viewpoints to help keep an eye on  fires and smoke.  The first one is near Leavenworth and looks approximately west/northwest toward the Chiwaukum Creek fire.
View 1: http://www.fsvisimages.com/fstemplate.aspx?site=okwe2_fire1
View 2: http://www.fsvisimages.com/fstemplate.aspx?site=okwe2_fire2

And the second webcam looks northwest toward the Duncan fire.
http://www.fsvisimages.com/fstemplate.aspx?site=okwe1_fire1

Note that since they are solar powered they are programmed to go to sleep when the sun is low to save battery life.  Also, the web page where the images are displayed was designed for a somewhat different purpose so not all of the features of the web page will function for these cameras.  The "HI RES" button will give a larger image, and the "24 HOUR IMAGE SEQUENCE" will show multiple shots but other buttons at the site will not function.  Links to these cameras will also be placed on the WEBCAMS tab of this blog.

8-5-14 Air Quality Report (typo corrected)

Smoke Synopsis:
High pressure over the Region will begin to shift eastward today as a more westerly flow develops over the Pacific NW.  Expect a gradual cooling trend but also windier conditions with abundant sunshine.  Higher winds and sunshine should help lift, dilute and transport the smoke away during the day but could also increase fire activity.  The gusty westerly winds could enhance downslope smoke flows from fires.  Fires are now widespread across entire region with the potential to contribute to a regional smoke haze that could impact many cities.  Expect similar conditions tomorrow.
Air Quality Outlook:
Site	Tuesday August 5, 2014	Wednesday August 6, 2014	Thursday August 7, 2014	Comments
Omak	Moderate	Moderate	Good
Malott	Moderate	Moderate	Good
Brewster	Moderate	Moderate	Good
Winthrop	USG	USG	USG	Heavy impacts possible throughout the day. Air quality monitor down.
Twisp	USG	USG	USG	Heavy impacts possible throughout the day.
Chelan	USG	USG	USG	Duncan fire smoke beginning to impact site.
Entiat	Very Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Impacts drop off quickly after 10 AM
Plain	Good	Good	Good	New Site
Leavenworth	USG	USG	USG	Heavy impacts possible throughout the day.
Wenatchee	USG	USG	USG
Ellensburg	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Winds should push smoke away from town
Yakima	Moderate	Good	Good
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

Air Quality Advisory Tuesday 11:00 am

Smoke levels will vary throughout the day in some communities…

Wenatchee “Moderate”

Chelan “Unhealthy for Sensitive Populations”

Leavenworth and Entiat “Unhealthy”

 

When air quality is in the moderate range most people will not be impacted. Some people with underlying conditions like asthma, lung diseases or heart disease, the very young or very old will experience health effects. Limit time outdoors and limit physical exertion to very short periods until air quality improves, if you are having health effects.

 

When air quality is in the unhealthy for sensitive populations range people with asthma, lung or heart disease and young children may experience health effects. Outdoor activities should be limited by this group. Limit time outdoors. If you are having significant problems talk to your health care provider. The general public is not likely to be affected.

 

When air quality is in the “Unhealthy” range everyone is at risk of being affected by the smoke. Outdoor physical activities should be cancelled.  At this point everyone should limit exposure to outside air and do not do anything that would increase your breathing rate, people should avoid any exertion. It is best to stay indoors if you have asthma, diabetes, lung or heart disease, have a respiratory infection, or have had a stroke. Infants, pregnant women and people over 65 should also stay indoors. Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, wheezing and shortness of breath. The general population may experience these symptoms.

 

More information about current air quality conditions and forest fires is located at:

Ecology:                                   https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/

Forest Service:                        http://inciweb.nwcg.gov

Chelan Douglas Public Health           www.cdhd.wa.gov

 

 

 

8/5/2014 Time lapse video shows smoke coming into Washington last Sunday

We've seen widespread smoke impacts throughout Washington for a few days.  Some of the smoke is coming from the fires that are burning here but we're also getting some smoke from Oregon and as far away as California.  This time lapse video taken on Sunday August 3 shows generally hazy conditions in the Columbia River Gorge in the morning, and then in the afternoon and evening a fairly obvious plume, or multiple plumes, of smoke moves north across the river and into Washington.

Video here:  http://www.fsvisimages.com/movies/cori1/cori108032014.mp4

And for orientation and context, below is what the view from the camera site looks like on a clear day.  It looks W/SW from Washington into Oregon across the Columbia River.  That's Mt. Hood in the distance. Live images from the site are available here:  http://www.fsvisimages.com/fstemplate.aspx?site=cori1

Entiat Case Study

Case Study – Entiat

Over the last week the Entiat monitor has shown some of the most consistently high daily average readings of all the locations that have been involved in the smoke forecasts.  The downslope/upslope wind pattern has been very evident here, with smoke impacts peaking in Entiat between 7 and 10 AM but quickly clearing out for the rest of the day.  People affected by smoke in this area should plan their outdoor activities for later in the day to avoid the smoke.

Figure 1: Air Quality Monitor on Top of Entiat School

Figure 2: Smoke Levels Measured in Entiat

The intense activity of the Duncan fire has undoubtedly been the main contributing factor to the impacts measured in Entiat.  Interestingly the Chelan monitor has been unaffected by the smoke from either the Duncan or the Carlton Complex fires.  The smoke from those fires has stayed in their respective drainages.

Figure 3 – Fire Locations Showing Terrain

08-04-14 Air Quality Report

Smoke Synopsis:
More sunshine today should promote earlier and more complete clearing of smoke from the valleys.  There is a chance of afternoon thunderstorms again.  Expect a sunny day for tomorrow although upper level winds will become stronger and from a more westerly direction which should reduce the amount of smoke transport from fires in Oregon and enhance down-valley flow.  More new fires have also affected the air quality forecast for some cities.
Air Quality Outlook:
Site	Monday August 4, 2014	Tuesday August 5, 2014	Wednesday August 5, 2014	Comments
Brewster	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Chelan	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Colville	Good	Good	Good
Ellensburg	USG	USG	Moderate	New fire nearby.
Entiat	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Impacts drop off quickly after 10 AM
Leavenworth	USG	USG	USG	Heavy impacts possible throughout the day.
Malott	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Omak	Moderate	Moderate	Good
Twisp	USG	USG	USG	Heavy impacts possible throughout the day.
Winthrop	USG	USG	USG	Air quality monitor down
Wenatchee	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Yakima	Moderate	Good	Good
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