Updated Noon MDT Monday, August 19, 2013
Valid through noon MDT Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Smoke Outlook
Idaho DEQ has issued a Stage 1 Forecast and
Caution the following counties
- Camas and Blaine – The Stage 1 is effective through Friday, August 23, at which time it will be re-evaluated and either extended or lifted.
- Elmore – Stage 1 is effective through today at 3pm, at which time it will be re-evaluated and either extended or lifted
- Lemhi – Stage 1 is effective through tomorrow at 10 am, at which time it will be re-evaluated and either extended or lifted.
The Ketchum/Hailey area is continuing to
experiencing Hazardous air quality in the morning due to smoke from the Beaver
Creek fire. Significant smoke impacts
are expected to continue in the Ketchum/Hailey area through tomorrow
morning. Other areas in the central
Idaho Mountains are experiencing air quality in the moderate to unhealthy for
sensitive groups. The Ketchum monitor is no longer operational. DEQ has installed an emergency monitor in Ketchum. See below for information on accessing the
data. Air
quality is forecasted to be in the Very Unhealthy with periods in the Hazardous
for Ketchum/Hailey and moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups for other
areas in the central Idaho mountains. Salmon
is forecasted to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups today.
Air quality has improved to the Moderate
category in the southeast Boise/Mountain Home area. Any smoke in the area this morning is
expected to dissipate this afternoon.
However, some smoke is expected to move back into the Mountain Home area
during the night. DEQ is now issuing
an air quality forecast for Mountain Home on its website. Visit www.deq.idaho.gov/daily-air-quality-reports-forecasts. (Select
Mountain Home from the dropdown menu.) Air quality is forecasted to be in
the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in Mountain Home and Moderate for Boise.
Sensitive groups such as people with heart
and/or lung disease, adults over age 65, young children, and pregnant women
should avoid all outdoor activities until air quality improves. Everyone else
should minimize outdoor activities. When air quality is in the
hazardous category (visibility of less than 1 mile) everyone should stay
indoors and avoid exertion.
West winds will continue to transport smoke towards the east. Eastern and southeast Idaho can expect light
to moderate smoke impacts today and tomorrow morning. Areas closer to the fires can expect heavy
smoke impacts during the morning hours.
6 emergency monitors have been installed in Idaho to help monitor
smoke impacts from wildfires:
- DEQ has installed monitors in Mountain Home, Fairfield and Ketchum. The information can be found at http://app.airsis.com/USFS/fleet.aspx
o
Fairfield – #Idaho1000
o
Mountain Home - #Idaho1002
o
Ketchum - #Idaho1005
- The USFS installed monitors in Lowman, Atlanta, and Challis. The information can be found at http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/smoke.pl
o
Lowman monitor is Smoke#19
o
Atlanta monitor is Smoke#13
o
Challis monitor is Smoke#21
o
Users should be aware that the Forest Service
site reports the data in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). To convert
from UTS to Mountain Daylight Time, subtract 6 hours.
Smoke forecasts are dependent
on predicted fire growth and weather. If
conditions change unexpectedly, impacts could occur. When visibility starts to go below 5 miles,
sensitive groups should minimize outdoor activities. Everyone else should minimize prolonged or
physical activity outdoors. Refer to the
Smoke and Health Tab on the Idaho Smoke Information
Blog for additional health
information.
Your eyes are your best tools to determine if it’s
safe to be outside. Even if you smell smoke, the air quality may
still be good.
|
AQI
Category
|
Visibility
(miles)
|
|
Good
|
11+
|
|
Moderate
|
6-10
|
|
Unhealthy for Sensitive
Groups
|
3-5
|
|
Unhealthy
|
1½ -2¾
|
|
Very Unhealthy
|
1-1¼
|
|
Hazardous
|
Less than 1
|
No comments:
Post a Comment