This afternoon's "No Smoke" Satellite image!

Twisp vs Winthrop

On this gorgeous, clear day with no smoke, let's take a look at the differences between two air quality monitors located less than 9 miles apart in the same Methow Valley.  The blue graphs indicate 1-hr average concentrations of PM2.5 while the red data points are 24-hr averages. Note that while the 24-hr values trended rather similar for the two sites (expected as they are spatially close) the peak 1-hr values differed greatly!

Why would this be? As you can see in the graphic below (orange ovals depict drainage valleys below the fires), smoke from the Upper Falls Creek Fire drains directly into Winthrop prior to reaching Twisp. So when that fire has been active, Winthrop will experience higher smoke concentrations.

On the other hand, the Little Bridge Creek Fire drains directly into Twisp, bypassing Winthop almost completely! So if one fire is more active than the other, the two communities, while close, may experience greatly different air quality.  And that is the what's been going on...  Note that today, both areas are fine places to be!

Air Quality Outlook for Saturday, August 16, 2016

Smoke Synopsis:

Cool moist weather continued to moderate fire activity with mostly smoldering occurring in interior portions of the fires. Warmer and drier conditions this weekend may increase fire activity and produce some noticeable smoke.  Winds will switch around to a more pattern, generally from the west and valley drainages should see a return to their typical upslope in the day and downslope at night pattern. Information on new fire starts from the recent lightning should become apparent over the next few days.  Look for late night and early morning smoke in valleys below any active burn areas.

Air Quality Outlook:
Site	Saturday August 16, 2014		Sunday August 17, 2014		Monday August 18, 2014		Comments
Colville	Good		Good		Moderate
Wellpinit	Good		Good		Moderate
Keller	Moderate		USG		USG
Omak	Moderate		Moderate		Moderate
Malott	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Brewster	Good		Good		Moderate
Winthrop	Good		Good		Moderate
Twisp	Good		Moderate		USG
Chelan	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Entiat	Good		Moderate		USG
Plain	Good		Good		Good
Leavenworth	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Wenatchee	Good		Good		Moderate
Ellensburg	Good		Moderate		Moderate
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

Smoke / Air Quality Summary for Friday, August 15, 2014

Smoke Synopsis:

Once again, most fire areas received between one quarter and one inch of rain yesterday.  This has further reduced fire activity and will continue to allow firefighters to be more aggressive today to strengthen containment lines, although debris flows across roads and slippery slopes are causing safety problems of their own.  High humidity will cause more smoldering, and although not a significant amount of smoke is being generated, it will remain relatively close to the ground and in the valleys.  Winds will continue to be quite light. Information on new fire starts from the recent lightning may not appear for a few days. Any new fires will affect the smoke forecast.  Smoke will accumulate, flush out and accumulate again in several areas through Saturday, especially morning around Ellensburg, the Methow Valley, and the Hwy 21 corridor near Keller. Smoke from fires outside the state may occasionally impact cities close to state borders to varying extents, especially Saturday and Sunday.

Air Quality Outlook:
Site	Friday August 15, 2014		Saturday August 16, 2014		Sunday August 17, 2014		Comments
Colville	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Wellpinit	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Keller	Unhealthy		Unhealthy		USG		Midnight to 8 am are worst times – pm good
Omak	Moderate		Moderate		Moderate
Malott	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Brewster	Good		Good		Moderate
Winthrop	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Twisp	Moderate		Moderate		USG
Chelan	Good		Good		Moderate
Entiat	Good		Moderate		USG
Plain	Good		Good		Good
Leavenworth	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Wenatchee	Good		Moderate		Moderate
Ellensburg	USG		USG		USG
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