08/10/2016 Idaho DEQ Smoke Forecast

Updated 10am MDT Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Valid through Noon MDT Thursday, August 11, 2016

Smoke Outlook

Air quality is forecast to continue to remain in the Good to Moderate air quality category across the state today.  All DEQ monitors are currently reading in the GOOD category this morning except for Franklin, which is the MODERATE category.

Today will experience a warming trend as the upper level low pressure system tracks east and out of the area of influence and an upper level ridge approaches from the west.  Wind speeds will be in the 5-15 mph range from the west-southwest with northwest winds across the Treasure Valley and Magic Valley, LC Valley with northwest to northwest winds over the Camas Prairie.  Wind directions over northern Idaho will be generally will be from the west-southwest.  Wind speeds at the surface will range from 10-15 mph in southern Idaho and 5-10 mph in northern Idaho.  Mixing heights will range from 3,000 feet AGL to 7,000 feet AGL.  There is a chance for scattered thunderstorms across the northern Panhandle this afternoon.

Smoke impacts today are expected to be more localized with continued cooler temperatures.  Smoke is expected to be localized to communities near active fires with morning drainage into the Upper Treasure Valley and Stanley region.  After the inversion lifts this morning, a southwest wind will transport smoke towards the northeast, but light winds will keep the advection to a more local scale.  This evening will see nocturnal drainage down the Boise-Mores into the Lower Snake River Plain.  Tomorrow will see limited impacts across the Upper Treasure Valley in the morning before clearing in the afternoon.

DEQ Air Quality Forecast and Cautions:

• The Idaho Falls Regional Office has lifted a Stage 1 Air Quality Forecast and Caution for Custer County.
• The Boise Regional Office has lifted a Stage 1 Air Quality Forecast and Caution for Boise County. 

View real time smoke monitoring at:  http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=topics.smoke_wildfires

View DEQ near-real time monitoring at: http://airquality.deq.idaho.gov/

The USFS installed monitors near Stanley, Idaho and Lowman, Idaho.  Idaho DEQ has installed temporary monitors in Fairfield and Boise (Garden City), Idaho. The information can be found at http://smoke.airfire.org/monitoringReport/#/?date=LATEST&productType=plotTable.

·         Stanley, ID monitor is Stanley-Idaho 75

·         Lowman, ID monitor is Lowman-Jolene Drive

·         Fairfield, ID monitor is Fairfield-Soldier Road

·         Boise, ID monitor is Garden City-Alworth Street

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.  Visit the Idaho Smoke Blog for more information at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/

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

How to estimate air quality based on visibility for areas without an air quality monitor or airport visibility estimate:

a. Face away from the sun.

b. Determine the limit of your visible range by looking for targets at known distances (miles).

c. Visible range is when an object you can easily see in the distance disappears.

d. Use the visibility values above to determine the local wildfire smoke category.