9/26/12 Wildfire Smoke Forecast 0800 PDT

9-26-12 Air Monitor Update 0800 PDT

Central Region, Ecology Air Quality Report                  Chelan County monitor locations: Wenatchee- “Unhealthy” Leavenworth- “Good” Chelan- “Moderate”                Okanogan County monitor locations: Omak - “Good” Winthrop – “Good” Twisp-  “Good”                Kittitas County monitor location: Ellensburg- “Moderate” Yakima County monitor location: Yakima- “Good” White Swan- “Good” Toppenish- “Good”                Klickitat County monitor location: Goldendale- “Good”   Eastern Region, Ecology Air Quality Report Blue Mt. Area Clarkston  -  moderate Dayton  -   good Walla Walla  -  good Palouse Area Pullman  -  moderate Rosalia  -  moderate LaCrosse  -  moderate Northeast Colville  -  unhealthy for sensitive groups Wellpinit  -  unhealthy for sensitive groups

USDA FOREST SERVICE Air Quality Report            Chelan County monitor location: Wenatchee- (Confluence Park)- “Unhealthy” Cashmere- “Hazardous” Entiat- “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” Okanogan County* (new) Pateros- “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”            Grant County monitor location: Quincy-  Good“”           Kittitas County monitor location: Cle Elum- “Good” Klickitat County*(new) Trout Lake- “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”             Eastern cont., Ecology Air Quality Report Columbia Basin Kennewick  -  good Mesa  - unhealthy for sensitive groups Moses Lake  - unhealthy for sensitive groups Ritzville  - unhealthy for sensitive groups Spokane Area Spokane, - unhealthy for Sensitive groups Liberty Lake - unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Another very useful webpage for grab hourly and 24 hour data, Puget Sound Clean Air and their air quality tool: http://airgraphing.pscleanair.org/

Remember the Eastern Washington Burn Ban remains effective through Sunday, September, 30, 2012.

 

9/26/12 Wildfire Smoke Forecast 0800 PDT

Air Quality forecast, 8AM Wednesday 26 September 2012
Issued by Ranil Dhammapala, Washington State Dept. of Ecology

Wenatchee enjoyed relatively clean air for about half a day before smoke impacts returned last evening. Cashmere enjoyed clean air for a little longer than that, but spread over two installments. Presently Cashmere is recording Hazardous air, while air in Wenatchee is Unhealthy. Entiat, Pateros and Trout Lake are recording Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Chelan and Ellensburg are recording Moderate air, while other monitors along the east slopes of the Cascades are recording Good air. The Columbia Basin has a mixture of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Moderate and Good areas, with many sites showing little fluctuation since yesterday.
Yesterday's forecast is still pretty much on track, with strong nighttime inversions, above normal daytime temperatures and light winds (mostly terrain-driven). Largest smoke impacts are expected near the fires while most other areas in eastern WA get impacted by smoke sloshing around. Light east winds return on Thursday and it is possible that these may bring some smoke from Idaho wildfires to the Palouse, Clarkston and Spokane. In general, expect some smoke impacts in the morning and nighttime, with some afternoon clearing in most places.
A weakening front is expected to do no more than increase clouds and winds on Friday night, but at least this will help with smoke dispersion. Strong ridging is expected over the weekend, implying a return to stagnant conditions and even the possibility of east winds bringing ID wildfire smoke to the far eastern parts of the state and a little WA wildfire smoke to western WA. This bears watching.
The National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert for all of eastern Washington:

http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20quality%20alert
The Governor has extended a burn ban on all outdoor burning in eastern Washington through midnight Sunday.

 

Ecology Air Quality Monitoring Network Map: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.ltr.aspx

  -note, click on the dots and you can then click on View more information to find out the latest hourly values even if the dot is grey

 

 

 

9/25/12 Air quality improves for some short-lived relief

Washington Department of Ecology news

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sept. 25, 2012

12-323

Air quality improves for some short-lived relief 

 YAKIMA – For the first time in nearly two weeks, none of the air quality monitors in the state are recording hazardous conditions. Pateros comes precariously close, though, with air quality there degraded today while other nearby sites showed improvement in response to a passing front.

            Meteorological data in the area show winds picking up, but the sheltered location of Pateros probably resulted in smoke pooling in the area.

Trout Lake, Winthrop, Omak, Chelan and Entiat remain unhealthy, while Wenatchee, Cashmere, Twisp, White Swan and Toppenish, registering unhealthy for sensitive groups, are clearing out quite well.

Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Quincy, Leavenworth and Yakima all have good air. Sites around the Columbia Basin vary from good to unhealthy for sensitive groups.

A front passing through Eastern Washington right now should help keep smoke levels in check through this evening, according to Ecology meteorologist Ranil Dhammapala.

            “Sadly this improvement is short lived: a building ridge will cause a return to stagnant conditions through Friday,” Dhammapala said. “Strong nighttime inversions and light winds will ensure smoke sloshes around and causes the kind of impacts we have been living with over the last two weeks.”

            Mild east winds return on Thursday and it is possible that these may bring some smoke from Idaho wildfires to the Palouse/ Clarkston areas. In general, expect some smoke impacts in the morning and nighttime, with some afternoon clearing in most places.

            There is no significant precipitation in the five-day forecast. Slight increases in wind speeds on Friday should help with dispersion in Eastern Washington.

            A few areas in the south Puget Sound, Southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula might have smelled a whiff of smoke yesterday morning as the inversion broke, but not enough to degrade air quality much. Wildfire smoke is not expected to push west of the Cascades, but with light winds over the next few days, expect a slight buildup of locally and regionally generated pollutants.

            The Governor has extended a burn ban on all outdoor burning in eastern Washington through midnight Sunday.

You can find news and information about smoke and wildfires from a variety of state, local and federal agencies on a new blog, http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/.

The National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert for all of eastern Washington: http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20quality%20alert

###

Media Contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, Communications Manager, 509-575-2610; joye.redfield-wilder@ecy.wa.gov

Ecology’s website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov

Ecology’s social media: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/about/newmedia.html

###

Broadcast version

After nearly two weeks many communities in Central Washington are experiencing some relief from area wildfire smoke.

No air quality monitors in the state are registering in the hazardous zone. But the reprieve may be short lived, the Department of Ecology says.

A building ridge will cause a return to stagnant conditions through Friday.

Strong nighttime inversions and light winds will ensure smoke sloshes around, causing the kind of impacts we have been living with over the last two weeks.

9/25/12 Wildfire Smoke Forecast 0800 PDT

Air Monitor Update 0800 PDT

              

Central Region, Ecology Air Quality Report                  Chelan County monitor locations: Wenatchee- “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Leavenworth- “Good” Chelan- “Unhealthy”            Okanogan County monitor locations: Omak - “Unhealthy” Winthrop – “Unhealthy” Twisp-  “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”                Kittitas County monitor location: Ellensburg- “Good” Yakima County monitor location: Yakima- “Good” White Swan- “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Toppenish- “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”                Klickitat County monitor location: Goldendale- “Good”   Eastern Region, Ecology Air Quality Report Blue Mt. Area Clarkston  -  unhealthy for sensitive groups Dayton  -   good Walla Walla  -  moderate Palouse Area Pullman  -  moderate Rosalia  -  good LaCrosse  -  good Northeast Colville  -  unhealthy for sensitive groups Wellpinit  -  moderate

USDA FOREST SERVICE Air Quality Report         Chelan County monitor location: Wenatchee- (Confluence Park)- “moderate” Cashmere- “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Entiat- “Unhealthy” Okanogan County* (new) Pateros- “Very Unhealthy”            Grant County monitor location: Quincy-  Good“”           Kittitas County monitor location: Cle Elum- “Good” Klickitat County*(new) Trout Lake- “Unhealthy”           Eastern cont., Ecology Air Quality Report Columbia Basin Kennewick  -  moderate Mesa  - moderate Moses Lake  - unhealthy for sensitive groups Ritzville  - moderate Spokane Area Spokane, - unhealthy for sensitive groups Liberty Lake - unhealthy for sensitive groups

Another very useful webpage for grab hourly and 24 hour data, Puget Sound Clean Air and their air quality tool: http://airgraphing.pscleanair.org/

Remember the Eastern Washington Burn Ban remains effective through Sunday, September, 30, 2012.
Information Clearing House for Wildfire Information Updates: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

9/25/12 Wildfire Smoke Forecast 0800 PDT

Air Quality forecast, 8AM Tuesday 25 September 2012
Issued by Ranil Dhammapala, Washington State Dept. of Ecology

For the first time in nearly two weeks, none of the monitors in the state are recording Hazardous conditions. Pateros comes precariously close though- air quality there degraded somewhat yesterday and today while other nearby sites show an improvement in response to the passing front. Meteorological data in the area show winds picking up, but the sheltered location of Pateros probably resulted in smoke pooling in the area. Trout Lake, Winthrop, Omak, Chelan and Entiat remain Unhealthy, while Wenatchee, Cashmere, Twisp, White Swan and Toppenish (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) are clearing out quite well. Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Quincy, Leavenworth and Yakima all have Good air. Sites around the Columbia Basin vary from Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

A front passing through eastern WA right now should help keep smoke levels in check through this evening. But sadly this improvement is short lived: a building ridge will cause a return to stagnant conditions through Friday. Strong nighttime inversions and light winds will ensure smoke sloshes around and causes the kind of impacts we have been living with over the last 2 weeks. Mild east winds return on Thursday and it is possible that these may bring some smoke from Idaho wildfires to the Palouse/ Clarkston areas. In general, expect some smoke impacts in the morning and nighttime, with some afternoon clearing in most places.

No significant precipitation in the 5-day forecast. Slight increases in wind speeds on Friday should help with dispersion in eastern WA.

A few areas in the south Puget Sound, SW Washington and the Olympic Peninsula might have smelled a whiff of smoke last morning as the inversion broke, but not enough to degrade air quality much. Wildfire smoke is not expected to push west of the Cascades, but with light winds over the next few days, expect a slight buildup of locally and regionally generated pollutants.

The National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert for all of eastern Washington:
http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20quality%20alert

The Governor has extended a burn ban on all outdoor burning in eastern Washington through midnight Sunday.

 

Ecology Air Quality Monitoring Network Map: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.ltr.aspx

  -note, click on the dots and you can then click on View more information to find out the latest hourly values even if the dot is grey

 

 

 

9-24-12 1800 Governor Extends Burn Ban

The Governor's Office issued the following news release late Monday:

 

Gov. Gregoire extends Eastern Washington burn ban

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire tonight extended a burn ban for all counties east of the Cascade crest, prohibiting all outdoor burning through midnight Sunday, Sept. 30. An emergency proclamation declaring a State of Emergency remains in effect, and allows continued air support from Washington's National Guard to help fight ongoing wildfires.

"One reason firefighters have been able to start gaining ground is because they're not being diverted to additional, human-caused fires," Gregoire said. "With the warm, dry conditions expected to continue through at least next weekend, fire danger remains very high. I appreciate the cooperation of Washingtonians who have refrained from burning, and recognize that fire crews need our support and help to keep people safe and protect property."

The burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including but not limited to:

• Campfires
• Bonfires
• Residential yard debris clean-up, trash disposal, land clearing, weed abatement and agricultural burning activity
• Ignition of fireworks.

Liquid fueled or gas-fueled stoves are permitted provided the use is conducted over a non-flammable surface and at least five feet from flammable vegetation. Charcoal grills are permitted at private residences under the same conditions.

The proclamation issued by the governor:

• Directs state agencies and departments to continue to utilize state resources and to do everything reasonably possible to assist affected political subdivisions in an effort to respond to and recover from the fires;
• Notes the order into active state service of the organized militia of Washington state, to include the National Guard and the State Guard remains in effect; and
• Instructs the Washington State Emergency Operations Center to continue to coordinate all event-related assistance to the affected areas.

Meanwhile, Gregoire continues to urge Washingtonians to protect themselves from smoke-filled air. The state's Department of Ecology is monitoring air quality across Washington state. Today, air quality in Central Washington is "unhealthy" for everyone. And in both Wenatchee and Ellensburg air quality is worse and registers as "hazardous" and "very unhealthy" respectively. Pateros and Entiat also are reporting "very unhealthy" air.

Farther south of Toppenish, and in much of Eastern Washington, residents are experiencing air quality that is "unhealthy for sensitive groups" such as the elderly, very young children and people with breathing difficulties, heart disease or lung disease. Today Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities are enjoying a reprieve from unhealthy air.

Light winds over the Cascades today are not expected to help much with smoke in the hard-hit communities. Computer models predict some moderate winds later today, which could lead to good dispersion in Ellensburg, Leavenworth and the Methow Valley.

To check for air quality monitoring information, visit: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/air_monitoring_data/WAQA_Intro_Page.html

Meanwhile, the Washington State Department of Health is providing answers to frequently asked questions about wildfire smoke here: http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/OutdoorAir/SmokeFromFires.aspx

9/24/12 1330 Experimental Smoke Dispersion Forecasts Now Available

Starting today (September 24, 2012), a daily report summarizing predictions of smoke impacts for eastern Washington from the BlueSky Framework, an experimental smoke dispersion modeling system, will be posted on the WAsmoke blog. The predictions are for informational purposes only because many approximations are used which leads to a high degree of uncertainty in the results.

The image below is an example of output from the BlueSky Framework and depicts predicted smoke impacts from the Washington fires at 4PM PDT today, September 24. The colors do NOT correspond to the Washington Air Quality Advisory values. Rather, greens indicate low smoke concentrations, yellow and orange are moderate concentrations, and red and purple are high concentrations. A full report can be found at the  Experimental Smoke Model Predictions link on this page under "OTHER RESOURCES."

9/24/12 Air quality still 'hazardous' or 'very unhealthy' from top to near bottom of Central Washington

Washington Department of Ecology news

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sept. 24, 2012

Air quality still ‘hazardous’ or ‘very unhealthy’ from top to near bottom of Central Washington 

            SPOKANE – From Winthrop and Okanogan to Toppenish, air quality in Central Washington is “unhealthy” for everyone today. And in both Wenatchee and Ellensburg air quality is worse and registers as “hazardous” and “very unhealthy” respectively. Pateros and Entiat also are reporting “very unhealthy” air.               
Farther south of Toppenish, and in much of Eastern Washington, residents are experiencing air quality that is “unhealthy for sensitive groups” such as the elderly, very young children and people with breathing difficulties, heart disease or lung disease. Today Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities are enjoying a reprieve from unhealthy air.

Light winds over the Cascades today are not expected to help much with smoke in the hard-hit communities. Computer models predict some moderate winds later today, which could lead to good dispersion in Ellensburg, Leavenworth and the Methow Valley.

All residents in the Wenatchee and Ellensburg areas should stay indoors and curtail their physical activities both indoors and outside. Doors and windows should remain closed. In the remainder of Central and Eastern Washington, common sense precautions should be taken by everyone, but sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly and heart patients, are particularly vulnerable.

The biggest health threat comes from the fine particles in smoke. These can cause burning eyes, runny nose, bronchitis and other illnesses. Smoky air also can aggravate heart and lung diseases, and even lead to death.

The Washington State Department of Health is providing answers to frequently asked questions about wildfire smoke.

Weather systems over the weekend in Eastern Washington did cause some dispersion and didn’t set off new wildfires, but they also transported some smoke from central Idaho wildfires further west into Washington.

You can find news and information about smoke and wildfires from a variety of state, local and federal agencies on a new blog, http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/.

Central Washington University is providing information for students and their families online.

The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for much of eastern Washington.

Gov. Gregoire has issued a burn ban in Eastern Washington, which is in effect until midnight Monday.

Media Contact: Jani Gilbert, Communications Manager, 509-329-3495; cell, 509-990-9177; jani.gilbert@ecy.wa.gov.

Joint blog on wildfire smoke and related information: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com

Check for air quality monitoring information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/air_monitoring_data/WAQA_Intro_Page.html

Washington Department of Health smoke information: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom.aspx

Frequently asked questions about wildfire smoke: http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/OutdoorAir/SmokeFromFires/FrequentlyaskedQuestionsaboutWildfireSmoke.aspx

Central Washington University information: http://www.cwu.edu/table-mountain-fire

Read the Governor’s emergency declaration: http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1967&newsType=1

National Weather Service Air Quality Alert: http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20quality%20alert

Ecology’s website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov

Ecology’s social media: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/about/newmedia.html

###

Broadcast version

From Winthrop and Okanogan to Toppenish, air quality in Central Washington is “unhealthy” today.  And air quality is registers as “hazardous” in Wenatchee and “very unhealthy” in Ellensburg.  Pateros and Entiat also are reporting “very unhealthy” conditions.

All residents in the Wenatchee and Ellensburg areas should stay indoors and curtail their physical activities both indoors and outside. Doors and windows should remain closed.

Farther south of Toppenish, and in much of Eastern Washington today, air quality rates as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” such as the elderly, young children and people with breathing difficulties.

People can keep tabs on smoke at wa-smoke-dot-blogspot-dot- com.

Jani Gilbert

Dept. of Ecology

Communications Manager, Eastern Regional Office

9/24/12 Wildfire Smoke Forecast 0800 PDT

Air Quality forecast, 8AM Monday 24 September 2012
Issued by Ranil Dhammapala, Washington State Dept. of Ecology
Air quality in Cashmere and Wenatchee remain Hazardous, while Pateros, Entiat and Ellensburg are reporting Very Unhealthy air. Trout Lake, Quincy, Leavenworth, Omak, Chelan, the Methow, Yakima and Toppenish have Unhealthy air. White Swan, Goldendale and Cle Elum are recording Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Air in the southern part of the Columbia Basin appears good at present, while most other monitors in the Basin, with a few exceptions are in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category.
The weather systems over the weekend that were supposed to alleviate some smoke in eastern WA also got up to a little mischief in the process. While they did cause some dispersion and desisted from sparking off new wildfires, they also transported some smoke from central Idaho wildfires further west which then mixed to the surface in eastern WA after the inversion broke. These impacts appear to have persisted throughout the day in a lot of eastern WA. Some smoke from WA wildfires was pushed up against the Cascades and impacted the communities at the eastern foothills once the drainage flows started and easterly winds let up.
Light winds over the Cascades today are not expected to do a whole lot to help with smoke in the hard-hit communities. That said the models are advertizing some moderate winds near the gaps along I90 and Hwy2 starting later today. If it pans out, this could lead to good dispersion in Ellensburg, Leavenworth and the Methow, but also risks limiting plume rise. Flow is most W-NW which pushes smoke into the Columbia Basin. But how far southeast into the Basin it will travel before turning NE (under a SW flow regime), is uncertain. This could lead to smoke impacts in the Spokane area too. The Yakima valley might get off lightly today, but parts of Klickitat County could see a little bit of smoke from the Mt. Adams fire.
Models are backing off on the strength of the low pressure systems that were expected to bring some cooling and spotty rainfall to the northern counties. No strong winds in the forecast through this week, though some clearing is expected east of the Cascades Tuesday afternoon.
Western WA did not see enough vertical mixing to transport this smoke to the surface. No air quality issues are expected in Western WA over the coming days.
The National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert for much of eastern Washington:
http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20quality%20alert
The Governor has issued an emergency proclamation for all of eastern Washington:
http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1967&newsType=1

Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) Chart:

https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/App_AQI/AQI.en-US.pdf

Ecology Air Quality Monitoring Network Map: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.ltr.aspx

  -note, click on the dots and you can then click on View more information to find out the latest hourly values even if the dot is grey

 

 

              

Central Region, Ecology Air Quality Report                  Chelan County monitor locations: Wenatchee- “Hazardous” Leavenworth- “Unhealthy” Chelan- “Unhealthy”                Okanogan County monitor locations: Omak - “Unhealthy” Winthrop – “Unhealthy” Twisp-  “Unhealthy”                Kittitas County monitor location: Ellensburg- “Very Unhealthy” Yakima County monitor location: Yakima- “Unhealthy” White Swan- “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Toppenish- “Unhealthy”                Klickitat County monitor location: Goldendale- “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”   Eastern Region, Ecology Air Quality Report Blue Mt. Area Clarkston  -  unhealthy for sensitive groups Dayton  -   good Walla Walla  -  good Palouse Area Pullman  -  unhealthy for sensitive groups Rosalia  -  unhealthy for sensitive groups LaCrosse  -  unhealthy for sensitive groups Northeast                     Colville  -  unhealthy for sensitive groups Wellpinit  -  unhealthy

USDA FOREST SERVICE Air Quality Report            Chelan County monitor location: Wenatchee- (Confluence Park)- “Unhealthy” Cashmere- “Hazardous” Entiat- “Unhealthy” Okanogan County* (new) Pateros- “Very Unhealthy”            Grant County monitor location: Quincy-  “Unhealthy”           Kittitas County monitor location: Cle Elum- “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Klickitat County*(new) Trout Lake- “Unhealthy”           Eastern cont., Ecology Air Quality Report Columbia Basin Kennewick  -  good Mesa  - unhealthy for sensitive groups Moses Lake  - unhealthy for sensitive groups Ritzville  - unhealthy for sensitive groups Spokane Area Spokane, - “Unhealthy for Sensitive groups” Liberty Lake- “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Another very useful webpage for grab hourly and 24 hour data, Puget Sound Clean Air and their air quality tool: http://airgraphing.pscleanair.org/

Remember the Eastern Washington Burn Ban remains effective through Monday, September, 24, 2012.http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1967&newsType=1