The conditions that much of eastern Colorado and the Front Range has seen over the last several days is likely to persist, at least through the coming weekend and into early next week. A stubborn ridging pattern is in place over the southwestern U.S. and does not look like it wants to budge for the time being. This means that the clockwise flow at upper levels of the atmosphere will likely continue to carry smoke from fires burning in other states in the general direction of Colorado.
NAM forecasted 600 mb winds at 18 UTC (12 pm MDT) on Sunday October 13, 2024, from weathernerds.com, shows a pattern that will likely continue to move smoke from out-of-state fires into Colorado over the next several days.
What this means for us here in Colorado is that a persistence forecast will take us through the weekend. The haze that has lingered over the last few days and the up-and-down concentrations of fine particulates seen across the eastern slope of Colorado will likely continue, keeping particle pollution in the Moderate AQI category through at least Monday.
We favor these conditions over those experienced by folks who are closer to the fires and receiving much larger amounts of smoke, however we would also welcome a shift in the pattern (or some snow!) that could bring some relief from the gunk that has loitered in our area for long enough.
Keep on taking it easy if you are sensitive to smoke, keep an eye on air quality in your area, and we will keep you informed on any changes in this situation... hopefully sooner rather than later!
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