Models continue to indicate that smoke from fires across the western U.S. will move into Colorado Thursday evening and into Friday, however, so far the timing and severity of those impacts has not aligned with the model's predictions. It is suspected that cloud cover and increased relative humidity within the cooler air mass that is moving through the northwest states has limited fire activity, and breezy winds are helping to disperse smoke more effectively than the model is able to account for.
This is NOT to say that the threat of smoke moving into Colorado does not remain, it is simply to underscore the uncertainty of the timing and overall impact of this influence.
An uptick in particulate counts has been seen in in western Colorado, including in Grand Junction, where monitors are showing Moderate air quality. However the conditions seen to the west and southwest remain less concerning than anticipated.
This is all very encouraging for the moment, but does not mean that we are totally in the clear. The conditions seen in areas closest to the many fires in other states confirm that smoke is still being produced, and is still likely to move toward Colorado Thursday night, and may settle in by Friday morning.
Those who are sensitive to exposure to smoke should continue to reduce heavy exertion and take precautionary measures to reduce negative health impacts from smoke. You can find information about potential health complications and ways to reduce exposure on CDPHE's website, or by clicking on the Health Information tab at the top of this blog page.
We will continue to monitor conditions closely, and will report significant changes and expectations as they emerge.
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