Updated
10am MDT Thursday, August 11, 2016
Valid
through Noon MDT Friday, August 12, 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
Garden Valley, Nampa, and Boise which are currently reading in the MODERATE
category.
Today
will continue to experience a warming trend as an upper level ridge establishes
from the west. Wind speeds will be in
the 5-15 mph range from the west-northwest with northwest to northwest winds
over the Camas Prairie and southwest winds over the Upper Snake River Plain and
Purcell Trench. 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.
Smoke impacts today are expected to continue to be local in
nature. Smoke is expected to impact communities
near active fires with morning drainage into the Upper Treasure Valley and
Stanley region. Smoke from the Power
Line Fire outside American Falls will generate smoke in that area with
transport to the northeast once the inversion breaks. 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 and Northern Magic Valley before clearing
in the afternoon.
DEQ Air Quality Forecast and Cautions:
- None
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.
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/
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.
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