Friday, August 17, 2018
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Breathe a Little Fresh Air... Please!
A lot of Western Washington saw the smoke clear out last night and through this morning. The air quality is in the Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range in most western locations and it should clear up even more through today.
This westerly flow that we are experiencing should also bring some momentary relief Friday evening for residents in counties like Kittitas, Grant, Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla. Neighboring counties may also see a bit of clearing. Air quality in central and eastern Washington will vary, but with the nearby fires, residents in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties should expect continued smoky conditions through the weekend.
Unfortunately, these winds also mean there is a potential for fire growth...
And, now for the really bad news, the forecast for Sunday night is for winds from the north which could add more smoke from Canada into the region.
PM2.5 Across Washington (8 - 9 am; Thursday)
This westerly flow that we are experiencing should also bring some momentary relief Friday evening for residents in counties like Kittitas, Grant, Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla. Neighboring counties may also see a bit of clearing. Air quality in central and eastern Washington will vary, but with the nearby fires, residents in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties should expect continued smoky conditions through the weekend.
Unfortunately, these winds also mean there is a potential for fire growth...
And, now for the really bad news, the forecast for Sunday night is for winds from the north which could add more smoke from Canada into the region.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
A little clearing in Western Washington
Many people in Western Washington are wondering... when will this smoke clear out? Thankfully we have seen a little clearing start to occur this afternoon. Some monitors in Western Washington are down to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups and a couple are even down to Moderate. Most monitors in Western Washington are still in the Unhealthy range due to lingering smoke, but more clearing is expected through tonight and tomorrow. It may be short lived, but we expect at least a couple days of cleaner air coming up.
Be thankful you aren't in Alberta! Take a look at the giant smoke storm that traveled east over Canada today.
Be thankful you aren't in Alberta! Take a look at the giant smoke storm that traveled east over Canada today.
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| MODIS Image for 11 am on Wednesday Fire Locations Shown in Red |
Don't Tough it Out!
Daycares, camps and school sports
practices should be held indoors when the air quality is poor.
When the smoke levels are unhealthy, it is recommended that outdoor activities be restricted for everyone, especially those in sensitive groups who could have a wide range of health effects. Sensitive groups include those with health conditions, infants, children, pregnant women and people over 65.
Keep smoke out of buildings. If there is no air conditioning, keep it cooler indoors with shades and fans. Remember to stay hydrated.
When the smoke levels are unhealthy, it is recommended that outdoor activities be restricted for everyone, especially those in sensitive groups who could have a wide range of health effects. Sensitive groups include those with health conditions, infants, children, pregnant women and people over 65.
Keep smoke out of buildings. If there is no air conditioning, keep it cooler indoors with shades and fans. Remember to stay hydrated.
- More information about outdoor activities for children: Air Pollution and School Activities Guide (PDF)
- Recommendations for keeping indoor air clean in schools and buildings with mechanical ventilation: Improving Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality during Wildfire Smoke Events (PDF)
8/15/2018 British Columbia once again dealing with a very bad wildfire year - and we're getting some of the smoke
The B.C. Canada government declared a state of emergency today (Wednesday 8/15/18) due to wildfires. Approximately 566 wildfires are burning in B.C, with 29 evacuation orders affecting approximately 3,050 people. An additional 18,720 people are under evacuation alert. This is the second year in a row our neighbors to the north have been inundated with fire and smoke and some of that smoke has been heading south to Washington and beyond.
The best air quality models that predict smoke movement and accumulation in the Pacific Northwest, don't include fires and smoke from that far north. Other models do include the fires in Canada although their resolution is not as good so predicting air quality impacts in Washington as affected by smoke from Canada is rather challenging. The satellite photo below, taken yesterday (Tuesday) shows the red "hot spots" marking the large areas of fire in B.C. Fires in Washington can also be seen to the south. Note the magnitude of the smoke accumulation just north of the international border. We've already received some smoke from the north, how much more will travel to Washington in the coming days?
Another satellite photo from yesterday got a really clear view of fires and smoke around Washington. Plumes from the Crescent Mountain and McLeod fires are clearly visible north of Lake Chelan in the Methow Valley area, and the Cougar Creek plume is visible to the south of Lake Chelan closer to the center of the state. Large image available at the link: ModisAqua8_14
The best air quality models that predict smoke movement and accumulation in the Pacific Northwest, don't include fires and smoke from that far north. Other models do include the fires in Canada although their resolution is not as good so predicting air quality impacts in Washington as affected by smoke from Canada is rather challenging. The satellite photo below, taken yesterday (Tuesday) shows the red "hot spots" marking the large areas of fire in B.C. Fires in Washington can also be seen to the south. Note the magnitude of the smoke accumulation just north of the international border. We've already received some smoke from the north, how much more will travel to Washington in the coming days?
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