Satellite image and air quality data for Wednesday 19 August

There were very few clouds over the state yesterday. All the gray and white stuff over eastern Washington is wildfire smoke. Colored dots indicate air quality conditions. Green = Good, Yellow= Moderate, Orange= Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups and Red= Unhealthy.

Neighboring states are just as badly off L

Special Weather Briefing from National Weather Service

Extreme fire Weather forecasted for today and tonight. Please stay alert to local media and potential evacuations, especially in Okanogan County!

 

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/otx/outreach/briefing/wxbrief_slides.pdf

Additional Air Quality Concern

There is little to no precipitation in the forecast and strong, gusty
winds over the next 24 to 36 hours will produce conditions for increased
wildfire activity.

The current forecast calls for increased winds with gusts strong enough to
raise dust across the western portions of the Columbia Basin and in the
agricultural areas north of the Blue Mountains in southeast Washington.
This dust, combined with the continuing presence of wildfire smoke, will
produce poor air quality in the Unhealthy to Hazardous categories.


Clint Bowman
Air Quality Modeler
State of Washington, Dept. of Ecology

Air Quality Forecast - Chelan and Methow Valley Fires August 19, 2015

Air Quality Forecast - Chelan Lake & Methow Valley Fires     Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Prepared by:   Andrea Holland, Incident Air Resource Advisor (andreahollandsears@gmail.com) &

Carolyn Kelly (ckelly8384@gmail.com)

Wednesday:  Smoke will linger in Chelan and Manson throughout the morning, lift a little in early afternoon and settle back into these areas with the corresponding growth of northwest winds and corresponding fire activity. The upper Methow Valley will see a similar pattern with a brief clearing of the air in mid to late afternoon followed by a return of smoke from active fires north of the area. Being closer to the fires, Methow will likely see similar smoke conditions as Chelan throughout the day.  Smoke will remain in Leavenworth and Wenatchee throughout the morning; clearing by mid to late afternoon. Thursday:  Smoke will linger in Chelan and Manson throughout the day, becoming worse in late afternoon. The upper Methow Valley will see smoky conditions until a late morning lift in the inversion.  Methow will see variable smoke conditions throughout the day.  Leavenworth and Wenatchee will be spared from smoky conditions and see good air quality throughout the day. Friday: Between inversions holding in smoke, northwest winds with enhanced fire activity throughout the day, Chelan and Manson will not likely see much relief from smoke.  Gusty northwest winds will keep Leavenworth, Wenatchee and the Methow Valley free of smoke from these fires for most of the day; smoke may settle in these areas overnight.
Site	August 19 Air quality -Today		August 20 Air Quality - Thurs	August 21 Air Quality - Fri	Comments
Chelan	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Unhealthy
Manson	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Unhealthy
Methow Valley	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Good
				Moderate
Leavenworth	Unhealthy		Good	Good
	Good			Moderate
Wenatchee	Unhealthy		Good	Good
	Good			Moderate
Disclaimer: Conditions may change quickly. These predictions are based on anticipated weather and fire activity.  The air quality outlook is based on data from automated instruments that have not been subjected to a quality assurance review. AQI’s estimated for sites with air monitors.
Index Levels of Health Concern		Actions Recommended by WA Department of Ecology to Reduce Smoke Exposure
Good		None
Moderate		People with asthma, respiratory infection, diabetes, lung or heart disease, or have had a stroke should limit outdoor activities or do activities that take less effort, such as walking instead of running.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups		Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, asthma, diabetes, infants, children, adults older than 65, pregnant women, or who have had a stroke.  These people should limit time spent outdoors.
Unhealthy		Everyone should limit time spent outdoors. Everyone should avoid exercising outdoors (including sports teams) and choose non-strenuous indoor activities. People with asthma, respiratory infection, diabetes, lung or heart disease, or have had a stroke should stay indoors. Infants, children, pregnant women and adults over age 65 should also stay indoors.
Very Unhealthy		Everyone should stay indoors, do only light activities, and keep windows closed if it is not too hot. Run air conditioners on re-circulate and close the outside air intake. Use indoor air cleaners with HEPA filters, if available. If you must be outdoors, wear an N-95 respirator mask. People with chronic diseases should check with their health care provider before wearing a mask. Check with your local health department for health information. People with asthma, lung and heart disease, or have had a stroke should check with their health care provider for advice about leaving the area. Anyone with shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue, or difficulty moving or speaking should call their health care provider or call 911.
Hazardous		Everyone should stay indoors, do only light activities, and keep windows closed if it is not too hot. Run air conditioners on re-circulate and close the outside air intake. Use indoor air cleaners with HEPA filters, if available. If you must be outdoors, wear an N-95 respirator mask. People with chronic diseases should check with their health care provider before wearing a mask. Check with your local health department for health information. People with asthma, lung and heart disease, or have had a stroke should check with their health care provider for advice about leaving the area. Anyone with shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue, or difficulty moving or speaking should call their health care provider or call 911.

Webcam looking up Lake Chelan  http://www.fsvisimages.com/fstemplate.aspx?site=okwe3_fire1

For more information about smoke in Washington State, visit http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

 

Air Quality Forecast: 8-18-15 to 8-20-15

Smoke on the Eastside

All areas of Washington east of the Cascades can expect smoky air quality.  Many areas may deteriorate to unhealthy or hazardous levels.

Areas immediately downwind of wildfire plumes will experience the greatest smoke impacts.  All other areas will continue to have impaired visibility and elevated levels of smoke particulate.

How this affects our communities:

·         Major population centers, like Spokane and Wenatchee/East Wenatchee, will have continued smoke as these communities are downwind of significant fires.

·         Other communities like Yakima, Tri-Cities, Wall Walla, will have more generalized haze and may clear out as winds come up.

·         Nearly all river valleys will have higher smoke levels in the evening through early morning hours.

Beginning Wednesday evening to Thursday, August 20th, northwest winds are expected to begin clearing out the smoke from some areas.