A detailed version of this Outlook with live links can be found here: https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/newashington
*This Outlook was produced through the support of the incident management teams assigned to the Summit Trail and Chuweah Creek fires on the Colville Reservation to help inform nearby communities of smoke impacts.
Have you noticed some of the smoke outlooks created specifically for areas around the Methow Valley, Colville Reservation, and SE Washington that are being posted to the Washington Smoke Blog? These forecasts are being created every day by Air Resource Advisors - also known as ARA's - assigned to the incident management teams in charge of managing wildfires in the area. ARA's are trained specialists who can be dispatched to an incident management team to assist with understanding and predicting smoke impacts on the public and fire personnel. ARA's have expertise in air quality science, air quality monitoring, smoke modeling, pollutant health thresholds, and communicating about smoke risks and methods of mitigation.
Air
Resource Advisors:
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As temperatures cool overnight, the smoke settles into the valley like a blanket, and residents face starting the day with air quality in the very unhealthy to hazardous range. As the day goes on, the sun warms the surface and allows the smoke to mix up into the atmosphere, somewhat improving air quality.
It’s a frustrating pattern that appears to be set to continue through the weekend and into next week.
When air quality is in this unhealthy range, people should
try to stay indoors as much as possible, with the doors and windows closed.
Setting the air conditioning to recirculate, or using a HEPA portable air
cleaner, allows the air in the room to repeatedly pass through the filter,
scrubbing the smoke particles out of the air. Likewise, if you’re in your car,
set the air conditioning to recirculate. And, if you must be outside, wear an
N95 mask if possible, and try not to stay out too long.
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| Air quality readings in the Methow Valley have been unhealthy or worse. |
Clean Air Methow and the University of Washington Department
of Environment and Occupational Health Sciences have a brochure with tips and
strategies to stay healthy during these extended periods of wildfire smoke - https://deohs.washington.edu/sites/default/files/Smoke_brochure_web_MERV_13.pdf.
On a related note, remember that the COVID-19 pandemic is
not over, and significant concerns remain about the potential for wildfire
smoke to exacerbate the disease. For more information about COVID-19 and
wildfire smoke this season visit the Washington Department of Health’s Smoke from Fires page.
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| Smoke covers the Methow Valley Airport in this WSDOT photo. |
The Department of Ecology extended an Air Quality Alert for
Okanogan County through at least the weekend. Asotin and Ferry counties are
also under an Air Quality Alert, although we’re not expecting the smoke impacts
there to be as bad as what the Methow is facing.
It’s not all bad news from these super-stable weather patterns, however: West of the mountains, it continues to be a glorious summer with endless blue-sky days and air quality firmly fixed in the “good” category.
If you are a west-sider, spare a thought for your neighbors to the east as you enjoy another beautiful weekend.
