The arrival of the smoke layer was obvious in high-resolution MODIS visible satellite imagery yesterday. Here is an image from yesterday (Tuesday) around noon. There are clouds (the white stuff) but there is also smoke (the grayish veil that extends from offshore of CA into western WA.) You can see that the smoke did not extend into eastern WA at this time.
A close up view over western WA really shows the smoke.
Andy Stepniewski was birding yesterday near Chinook Pass and he generously shared a picture looking east (see below): an elevated smoke layer was very obvious.
The smoke was obvious at ground-based particle sensors around the region. Here is a plot of the PM2.5 concentrations (small particles that can go deep into your lungs) at North Bend, on the lower western slopes of the central Cascades, and Chehalis, in SW Washington, from Nov. 6th until now. Note that the Camp Fire started early on November 8th. A major spike was obvious at North Bend starting mid-day Tuesday and Chehalis is experiencing a major surge of small particles right now.
A good view of the smoke situation is available from the wonderful HRRR SMOKE modeling system.
The near-surface smoke analysis/initialization at 4 AM this morning shows the story, with dense smoke over California extending northward into western Oregon and Washington. Look closely and you can see the surface winds...southerly along the coast, thus bringing smoke into our region.
The forecast for 5 AM Thursday AM, show a radical improve over western Oregon and Washington, as clean ocean air floods the area. But central California will still be in the murk. You have to be worried for the residents of San Francisco, Sacramento, and other locations in northern and central California. This is probably the worst air quality event in several generations and the health impacts will be substantial.
from Cliff Mass Weather and Climate Blog https://ift.tt/2PsR9cU
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