Unfortunately, it appears that the hot, dry, and increasingly windy weather could increase fire activity on Wednesday. The biggest area of concern will be the large wildfires burning in Rio Blanco County. These include the Lee fire and the Crosho fire. A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for this area, which could lead to explosive wildfire growth and enormous amounts of smoke. We will be closely watching areas downwind (to the east) of these fires where smoke could quickly increase Wednesday afternoon and evening. Several counties to the east of the fires have been added to the air quality health advisory currently in effect for this area. Heads up today along Interstate 70 in Vail and Breckenridge, along with areas to the north including Kremmling, Fraser, and Granby.
Further south, areas of heavy smoke have been observed Wednesday morning in and around Grand Junction, Montrose, Delta, and Gunnison. Although we are expecting gradually improving air quality conditions in this area Wednesday afternoon, the Turner Gulch fire in Mesa County is still producing smoke. Therefore, this area will remain within the air quality health advisory for the time being.
Even further south in southwestern Colorado, the Stoner Mesa fire remains active. The weather conditions at this fire on Wednesday will not be quite as dry or windy as the fires to the north, which is good news. However, heavy smoke will continue to be an issue for areas in close vicinity to the fire such as the communities of Rico and Dolores. Some downwind impacts will also remain possible Wednesday afternoon and evening in Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, and Lake City, with the air quality health advisory remaining in effect for this area through at least Thursday morning.
thank you
ReplyDeleteSitting here with burning eyes in the tech center - no mention of what appears to be heavy smoke inflows across the i25 corridor? Can barely even see the foothills.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your observations and comment. We are certainly keeping a close eye on PM2.5 concentrations along the I-25 corridor. Currently they are at elevated, but generally high-moderate levels (20s in micrograms/cubic meter). We will certainly issue an Action Day Alert this afternoon if necessary. We are hopeful that some afternoon thunderstorm development may stir up the atmosphere enough to keep smoke levels from rising much higher, but we are definitely monitoring the situation.
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