Advisory on the Gold Mountain and Elk fires expanded for Wednesday

Smoke from the Gold Mountain and Elk wildfires in southwestern Colorado. Satellite image courtesy of slider.cira.colostate.edu

It was an active day for a few of the wildfires in southwestern Colorado on Tuesday. The Gold Mountain fire in Ouray County was impacted by heavy thunderstorms. The thunderstorms sent smoke in chaotic, unpredictable directions.  The towns of Ouray and Telluride both got hit by smoke plumes Tuesday afternoon and evening. Meanwhile the Elk fire largely avoided thunderstorms, but did made a significant "run" which increased its size. Smoke from the Elk fire directly impacted the Lake City area with very heavy smoke late Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Thunderstorms will once again be possible over both of these fires on Wednesday. Additionally, the prevailing transport winds on Wednesday will push smoke in a general north to south direction. With all of this information, the air quality health advisory has been expanded to includes areas to the south of the fires. This will include Hinsdale, San Juan, and eastern San Miguel counties. Heads up to rapidly changing air quality conditions on Wednesday in Telluride, Silverton, and Lake City. Please be prepared to protect your health from wildfire smoke.

In addition to these areas south of the fires, to the north we continue to see heavy smoke draining from the fires during the morning hours. Highway 550 from Ridgway northward to Montrose and even as far north as Delta will continue to receive this morning dose of smoke. If possible, hold off on spending time outside in these areas until the afternoon when the smoke has had time to clear.

Meanwhile, the Aspen Acres fire in Pueblo County has seen a slight decrease in fire activity. Air quality is not quite as bad Wednesday morning in the communities of Colorado City and Rye in southwestern Pueblo County. However, this fire continues to have the potential to intensify again. The air quality health advisory will remain in effect for southwestern Pueblo County for the time being.

Other fires we are watching include the Fishhook fire in Routt County to the southeast of Steamboat Springs, the Willow fire in Lake County near Leadville, and the Ferris fire in Dolores County. None of these fires at the moment are producing the type of heavy, long duration smoke that would trigger an advisory. However, any of these fires have the capability of producing brief periods of heavy smoke. Please remain alert to the potential for air quality to change quickly.