Smoke might spare western WA by remaining above, not so further east

Mostly Good (Green) or Moderate (Yellow) air in western WA on Saturday in spite of plenty of smoke over the area as shown by the satellite image of Saturday afternoon.

This is because a temperature inversion is limiting downward mixing. Here's the 5PM temperature sounding from Quillayute on Saturday, showing the inversion:


Models persist with this 3000- 5000 ft inversion through Tuesday, and if that prediction holds, it should keep most of the smoke above. Other models however mix some smoke to surface during the daytime hours on Sunday and Monday, so uncertainty persists. Air could range from Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in western WA, with both smoke and smog contributing- more on smog later.

Eastern WA doesnt have such a temperature inversion to keep the smoke aloft, so as long as the northerly flow persists, BC smoke will continue to mix downward. Air quality is not expected to improve a whole lot all week. Although a few Moderate areas might appear occasionally, folks need to be prepared for a repeat of the above map. Air will remain Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, if not worse.

A pattern shift that will help us ventilate out isn't on the cards until Saturday. The 10K ft winds advertised by the European model only turn southwest for the first time in over a week on Saturday morning.

And now about smog: the importance of ground level ozone (O3- the key ingredient of smog; not to be confused with "good" stratospheric ozone) has gotten lost in the midst of all the fine particle pollution concerns. Ozone is not released directly from sources but is formed when certain gases react together in the atmosphere under hot, dry and sunny conditions. It irritates the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system and is especially bad for those with chronic heart and lung disease, children and the elderly. A brief summary can be found here.

Wildfires are copious sources of one of the precursor gases and many ozone monitors in WA recorded high levels of ozone over the last few days.

Even when wildfire smoke is taken out of the equation, Washington state continues to have ozone concerns in the Cascade foothills of east King/ Pierce county, and in the Tri-Cities. Several air quality agencies are working with stakeholders to protect the public from this health risk.

Western Washingtonians can breathe again. For now

YESSS! Most of western Washington is in the Green for the first time in days. A light on-shore wind brought dramatic improvements to our air on Friday evening. A few areas north of Seattle are still not all the way down to Good air, though they're headed in the right direction. For now.

Sadly most of eastern Washington had the very opposite experience: some communities even reached Hazardous levels as stronger north winds blew even more smoke down from Canada. The Methow valley also got hit by smoke from the Diamond Creek fire simultaneously.

Here's how air quality levels changed at a representative smattering of sites across the state. Darker colors = poorer air. Says it all.

Forecast: somewhat uncertain and I'm leaning toward cautious optimism for western WA. First few frames the visible satellite images this morning show the smoke monster looming overhead, ready to blanket western WA with a thin layer of smoke smoke again. Models are not mixing a lot of this smoke to the surface, meaning folks in the lowlands might continue to see pretty sunsets and have maximum temperatures slightly cooler than forecast, without having to breathe the smoke. But there are reasons to be a little less optimistic, especially north of Seattle where a fire near Darrington and another south of Bellingham are adding smoke to the airshed. Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups is a safe bet, with Good to Moderate for the South Sound and southwest WA. Winds will die down causing smoke to linger between now and Monday.

Eastern WA: wish I had better news but the best most communities could hope for is around Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups over the next few days. Many communities have Very Unhealthy air right now and the health precautions cannot be over-stressed. Minimize outdoor exposure, run car and home air conditioners in recirculate mode, wear N95 masks if needed, stay hydrated and consult your physician for personalized health advice.

8/4/2017 Diamond Creek fire to get an Air Resource Advisor

The Diamond Creek fire, deep in the Pasayten Wilderness of north central Washington, is currently the largest and most active wildfire in the state (8,678 acres as of August 4). Because of it's remote and difficult-to-access location, it is likely to continue burning and causing air quality issues for the surrounding area until mother nature sends the firefighters an assist in the form of fall rains. Because of the smoke issues and the expected duration of the fire, the Incident Command team has ordered an Air Resource Adviser to help them inform the local communities about potential smoke impacts from the fire. So in the next couple of days people in the communities of Winthrop, Twisp, Okanogan, and Omak can expect to see some custom air quality information and predictions posted here on the smoke blog and in their communities. In addition, an extra smoke monitor is planned for deployment in Mazama.

8/4/2017 Animals can be affected by poor air quality too

A fairly common question from the public during wildfire smoke episodes is whether pets and other animals are affected by poor air quality, and what can be done to help them stay comfortable and healthy. An article posted today on WSU News and written by Charlie Powell with Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine addresses this question.

"Mammals lungs are all very similar, and some in other species like birds are extremely sensitive to particulates in the air."

You can read the whole article at this link: https://news.wsu.edu/2017/08/04/pets-wildfire-smoke-hazards/?platform=hootsuite

Note: This picture is just posted for a smile -
masks don't work for pets (or humans) with excessive facial hair.

Mild recovery started. And paused

The smoke column was slightly thinner compared to Wednesday.

But sadly the northwest maintains the ignoble distinction of recording the poorest air quality in the lower 48 states. Here's a map of 24-hr average fine particle levels on Thursday, overlaid with polygons of smoke plumes.



Here's an animation of the visible satellite just before sunset on Thursday- really amplifies the smoke sources. Notice how the upper level winds were blowing it eastward. Unfortunately that didn't make its way down to the surface and help ventilate our cities. And... light northeast winds have returned overnight 😒

Although there was a slight improvement in overall air quality yesterday compared to Wednesday, none of our sites managed to drop all the way down to Good. And the 72-hr forecast trajectories (green= 300ft above ground; blue =1500ft above and red= 3000 ft above) seems to suggest that new smoke will mostly stay east of the Cascades. Red triangles on the map are fire locations.

However there are reasons to believe that western WA will experience more smoke from BC over the coming days, perhaps a little less than before. Light onshore flow is expected each day but nowhere near enough to flush out the smoke. Be prepared for air ranging from Moderate to Unhealthy over the next few days.


Eastern WA will be impacted more from BC fires but winds will be stronger and help ventilate the Columbia Basin somewhat. Due to the many local fires, most sites- particularly near the Cascade foothills- will run from Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups and Unhealthy. Far eastern WA might be lucky enough to see some green dots (Good air quality) popping up on the map by Saturday evening.

Don't breathe the smoke while beating the heat! Remember to turn your air conditioners to recirculate mode and use a HEPA filter if needed. Minimize outdoor exposure. Sensitive individuals should wear N95 masks.

Wildfire Smoke Safety

Smoke from wildfires is affecting much of Washington State. If there is smoke present in your area, follow these recommendations:

• Check news, social media and local reports for the latest air quality status.
• Avoid physical activity outdoors when conditions are "unhealthy", "very unhealthy" or “hazardous.”
• Keep doors and windows closed but be mindful of hot weather. Run air systems/AC on recirculate and the close fresh-air intake. Keep the air in your house clean.
• You need to take extra care if you have a heart or lung condition, diabetes, are pregnant or over 65, as well as infants and children. Seek medical attention if the smoke is affecting your health.

For more information: http://www.doh.wa.gov/smokefromfires

Humo de los incendios forestales

El humo de los incendios forestales está afectando a gran parte del estado de Washington. Si hay humo en su área, siga estas recomendaciones.

• Revise las noticias, medios sociales y reportajes locales sobre la calidad del aire.
• Evite las actividades al aire libre, especialmente cuando la calidad del aire está en las categorías “Dañino, Muy Dañino o Peligroso.”
• Mantenga las puertas y ventanas cerradas pero tenga cuidado con las altas temperaturas. Corra el AC en recircular y cierre el aire fresco. Mantenga el aire de su casa limpio.
• Tiene que tener extra cuidado si tiene una enfermedad al corazón o pulmón, tiene diabetes, está embarazada o sobre 65, al igual que los niños e infantes. Busque atención médica si el humo está afectando su salud.

https://go.usa.gov/xREdu

Smoke monster overran Washington but mother nature is fighting back

Wildfire smoke has just swamped us like never before. Here's the satellite picture from Wednesday afternoon:

Don't recall a time when every fine particle monitor in the state recorded poor air for a whole day. Here's how the 24-hr average air quality conditions looked on Wednesday.



Red = Unhealthy, Orange = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups and Yellow = Moderate.

Zoom out and overlay the smoke layer- wow! In an ironic twist, you can actually go to Los Angeles and breathe easier than in Washington's remote locations!



Not all doom and gloom though. Some models are advertising a shot of northwesterly air this evening and night, which will bring a little relief to western Washington that is so unaccustomed to being overrun by what Prof. Cliff Mass terms "Smokezilla". If this scenario pans out, I wouldn't be surprised to see a few locations from Seattle northward recording Good air overnight. Less pronounced further south, so expect Moderate or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups overnight.

Winds are expected to pick up a little across the state on Friday. This will both fan the flames (red flag warnings galore) and blow away some smoke. Further improvements are likely in western WA although central and southeast WA are likely to get hit by a mixture of Montana and BC smoke at different times. But lighter winds return over the weekend, which will cause residual smoke to linger. Hard to tell if there will be a fresh infusion of BC wildfire smoke into western WA, but eastern WA will definitely get another dose. More details as the situation evolves.

Please pay attention to avoiding exposure to smoke by minimizing strenuous outdoor activities. Use discretion when opening windows at night to beat the heat, because this also brings poor air indoors.

Kittitas County Press Release: Poor Air Quality Conditions Expected to Continue for Several Days

 

 

Kittitas County Press Release Public Health For Immediate Release Poor Air Quality Conditions Expected to Continue for Several Days Kittitas County, WA - 08/03/2017 - Air quality in Kittitas County was listed as "unhealthy for sensitive groups" as of 8:00am on August 2, 2017 according to the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) air monitor located atop Hal Holmes Community Center in Ellensburg. Smoke as a result of several fires in Washington and British Columbia is affecting the air quality in Kittitas County and is expected to continue for several days. "Outdoor activities should take place when we have "good" air. When air quality changes to "moderate" or worse, we recommend people start making changes, including moving indoors," asserts Kittitas County Health Officer, Dr. Mark Larson. This recommendation is especially important to consider for outdoor activities currently taking place such as sports camps and practices.     KCPHD wants residents to be aware of current air quality conditions and take necessary steps to avoid negative health effects.  Air quality information can be accessed at any time via the Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) online https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/.  WAQA is a tool that measures the air quality with categories ranging from "good" to "hazardous" air.  Additional resources include the following:   Washington Smoke Blog http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ contains information about smoke as well as active wildfires. National Weather Service http://www.weather.gov/ has weather related alerts, including air quality. Washington State Department of Health's Wildfire Smoke page http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/SmokeFromFires/WildfireSmoke explains the harm of wildfire smoke. "Air Pollution and School Activities" table for specific recommendations for youth outdoor activities based on air quality conditions (also attached) http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/334-332.pdf   For more information about health concerns relating to air quality or informational resources, please contact KCPHD at (509)-962-7515.        8.2.17 Poor Air Quality Conditions in Kittitas County.pdf Air Pollution and School Activities- Public Health REcommendations.pdf Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us ### For more information: Contact: Holly Myers, Environmental Health Supervisor, 509-962-7515

 

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Notice: Email sent to Kittitas County may be subject to public disclosure as required by law

 

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Notice: Email sent to Kittitas County may be subject to public disclosure as required by law

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Notice: Email sent to Kittitas County may be subject to public disclosure as required by law

8/2/2017 Citizen Scientists can participate in testing of the "Smoke Sense" mobile application

Anyone with an Android phone in an area affected by wildfire smoke can participate in a study of a new app.  The Smoke Sense app is a publicly available mobile application developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Citizen scientists will be able to use the Smoke Sense app to learn about wildland fires and smoke health risks in their area.  They will then be prompted to anonymously report their health symptoms during wildland fires and the range of actions they are able or willing to take to improve their health condition or lower their exposure.   Users will earn badges each week they participate. 

EPA researchers are conducting the Smoke Sense study to:  1) determine the extent to which exposure to wildland fire smoke affects health and productivity, and 2) develop health risk communication strategies that protect public health during smoke days. 

Download and learn more about the Smoke Sense App at – https://www.epa.gov/air-research/smoke-sense  or at the Google Play store.

**Not yet available for Apple devices.