Pioneer Fire Air Quality Summary Report - Thursday, September 8

Air Quality Summary Report - Pioneer Fire             For: Thursday, September 8, 2016 

ARA: John Washington (jwashington@fs.fed.us)

FIRE, WEATHER AND SMOKE SYNOPSIS Weather: As an upper level ridge builds over the Pacific Coast, warmer and drier conditions will continue today with a slight chance of afternoon high level clouds. Wind speeds will be slightly stronger near the surface and aloft with transport winds primarily out of the west, northwest this afternoon.  Up-canyon winds will be around 7 – 10 mph, while ridge winds will be 10 - 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph over exposed ridges. The inversion will break between 11am and 1pm. Over next few days expect the ridge to strengthen and bring warmer and drier conditions. Fire Activity: Increased temperatures, and lower relative humidity (RH) values will increase fire activity this afternoon.  The most active fire activity will be seen north of HWY 17 and HWY 21 in the Warm Springs, Deadwood, and Bear Valley drainages. RH values will be around 15-20 percent in the lower valleys and 25 – 30 percent in the higher elevations.  Active surface fire with single and group tree torching can be expected. Wind/slope alignment may result in moderate spread rates; however significant spread rates are not expected.

Smoke Summary:  Smoke will concentrate in the low valleys this morning and mix down to the surface for much of the day.  The majority of areas will see clearing in the mid-to-late afternoon hours as daytime mixing peaks.  Smoke will begin to settle into the valleys in the mid-to-late morning hours with the biggest impacts for areas northeast, east, and southeast. Today, the most significant smoke impacts will be to Lowman and Ketchum.
 Air Quality Outlook  (smoke related)

Sites with air quality monitors (based on concentration PM 2.5 µg/m^3 24-hr avg.)
Site	Yesterday	Today	Tomorrow	Comments for Today (9/8/16)
Fairfield	Good	Good	Good	Possible haze in the mid to late morning.  Clearing after inversion lift.
Garden City	Good	Good	Good	Possible haze in the mid to late morning.  Clearing after inversion lift.
Garden Valley  School & ICP/Helibase	Good	Good	Moderate	Possible haze in the early to mid-morning. Clearing after inversion lift.
Idaho City	Good	Good	Moderate	Mostly clear conditions today.
Ketchum	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Elevated concentrations throughout the afternoon and evening.
Meridian	Good	Good	Good	Mostly clear conditions today.
Nampa	Good	Good	Good	Mostly clear conditions today.
Lowman	USG	Moderate	Moderate	Elevated concentrations throughout the afternoon and evening.
Stanley	USG	Good	Moderate	Mostly clear conditions today.
Salmon	Good	Good	Moderate	Mostly clear conditions today.

    Sites without Monitors
   

Site	Today	Tomorrow	Comments for Today
Lucky Peak Rec. Area	Good	Moderate	Mostly clear conditions today.
Centerville	Good	Moderate	Mostly clear conditions today.
Disclaimer: Conditions may change quickly. These predictions are based on anticipated weather and fire activity.

  

USG – Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Other Websites with Smoke Related Information

For areas without a monitor use the Visibility method to help protect your health from Smoke: https://nmtracking.org

 

Information about Wildfire Smoke and Your Health: http://www.cdc.gov/features/wildfires/

                                                   

Idaho Smoke Blog: https://idsmoke.blogspot.com