Wildfire Smoke Update
for
Tuesday, October 2, 2012 8:45 AM

Satellite Photos | Locations and Smoke Conditions

Today's Report and Forecast	Today's Summary
Some locations in western Montana saw an increase of wildfire smoke overnight which thus raised the “health effects categories” in some places. For example, cumulative smoke exposures in Helena are now UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS, but hourly concentrations are GOOD. Likewise, cumulative exposures in Great Falls, Seeley Lake, and Butte are MODERATE, but hourly concentrations are also GOOD. Cumulative exposures in Missoula are UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS, and even one hour this morning recorded such an exposure, but all other hourly concentrations have been GOOD. Similarly in Frenchtown and Hamilton, cumulative exposures are also UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS, bout hourly concentrations have dropped from MODERATE after midnight to GOOD, currently. Air quality is generally GOOD in all other locations. It is not clear why the air monitor in West Yellowstone has observed two UNHEALTHY hours this morning, surrounded by GOOD hourly observations. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for much of the state, so we will see that high fire danger again with gusty winds and low relative humidities. The cold front is still forecasted to move south across the state today. Colder air will be accompanied by a change in wind direction as the front moves through. Behind the front, winds will generally be out of the north and precipitation should follow. Rain is most likely at low elevations, but overnight and on Wednesday morning, some of that rain could turn to snow. The mountains, however, are expected to receive several inches of snow—especially the Rocky Mountain Front and the Big and Little Belt Mountains. Additional wildfire smoke may be produced today in the fire weather conditions, but air quality should improve drastically behind the cold front. There will be another update this afternoon with the latest smoke conditions, weather conditions, and a full forecast.	Please see "Today's Report and Forecast" (left). There will be another update this afternoon with the latest smoke conditions, weather conditions, and a full forecast.
Residents near active fires and under plumes aloft need to remain aware of current conditions and use the visibility guidelines to guide their activity decisions as the situation changes.
Air Quality Bureau Montana Department of Environmental Quality Phone: (406) 444-3490 Email: DEQMTSmoke@mt.gov

 




 
This webcam is at the IMAX Theatre in West Yellowstone. Visibility looks good and the flags are blowing in the wind.




The Sweet Grass webcam on I-15 along the Montana/Canadian border is looking north. The clouds in the image are associated with the weather system and cold front that will drop south across Montana today.


Red indicates hot spot detected. Grey represents smoke seen by satellite. Fire size is exaggerated for visibility at this scale. To identify individual fires on graphic above go here: https://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/lg_fire2.php 

Real time particulate information is currently available in most of the larger urban areas from MTDEQ's Today's Air website.

Local impacts in areas immediately adjacent to active fires are expected to exceed some or all of the advisory levels.  DEQ recommends the use of local visibility guidelines to evaluate possible health risks and make informed activity decisions.