2023 Fire Season

[Jerez]

Looks like it is Fire Season Already.

(If there is another thread started, or a more appropriate location, feel free to move this post.)

Its sad that Fire Season has become a thing now. And the season is underway despite lots of moisture and snow this winter in much of drought stricken western N. America.

There are already serious and large fires across Alberta.

First big fire start in NM in San Miguel County not far from last summer's conflagration. We had some rain and a little upper elevation snow last night which will hopefully help. But huge winds yesterday made it run pretty fast to 1000 acres and evacuations ordered. The poor folks in San Miguel and Mora haven't recovered from the last fire yet and already they are in it.

Edit... 16000 acres overnight 0 percent contained. 90 mph gusts.

 

[Jilly]

Our Fed's just sent in the Armed Forces for evacuations and fire fighting in Alberta. There is also a picture on FB of 2 trucks from the States with the Banff sign. Thanks for sending them!

 

[Jerez]

So sorry for you guys!

 

[James]

Well the smoke from the Quebec fires has definitely drifted down here. Looked like Beijing driving on the highway around 7pm tonight.

Wildfire Smoke: Skies Darken as Air Alerts Are Issued Across Northern U.S.

Smoke from the hundreds of wildfires blazing in eastern Canada has drifted south, casting a hazy pall over New York City and triggering air alerts from Minnesota to Massachusetts.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Jilly]

Yesterday it was like being on the wrong side of a campfire. I could even smell the wood burning. A friend in Ottawa had his car covered in ash.

 

[scott43]

The Big Smoke is living up to its name today...

Funny thing is, Los Angeles air quality in the sixties was like this every day!

 

[cantunamunch]

Yesterday it was like being on the wrong side of a campfire. I could even smell the wood burning.

One thing I absolutely detest - thankfully we're too far south for it this season (so far) - is being at full effort heart rate, lungs heaving and gulping air in, and creosote burning its way into every mucous membrane on the way in.

The Big Smoke is living up to its name today...

Funny thing is, Los Angeles air quality in the sixties was like this every day!

Until just recently, the penny didn't really drop for me about your night time rides vs. air quality...are you getting large particulate variation during the day?

 

[scott43]

Until just recently, the penny didn't really drop for me about your night time rides vs. air quality...are you getting large particulate variation during the day?

Yeah it is up and down. Higher level for an hour then abates somewhat. It's been a perfect weather pattern to pull it down from the north. Typically we get wind from the west-northwest. So this is unusual. And yeah typically at night there is less haze and pollution. And in summer it can be a dreadful concrete heat island here.

 

[Jilly]

They have the fire contained near my cottage, so that is good. But the like @scott43 can't breathe. Smoke websites are interesting. Hope the rain comes tomorrow as forecasted. I didn't go to paddle practice last night. And just got a note that practices are on, but will be technical in nature tomorrow night.

They are filming for the series Murdock Mysteries in town today. I feel for the actors.

 

[Dwight]

Fire and Smoke Map

fire.airnow.gov

 

[scott43]

 

[BLiP]

Looked like Beijing driving on the highway around 7pm tonight.

NYC looks like its been covered in a sepia filter

 

[scott43]

 

[Mike King]

WTC:

The view from my daughter's apartment on the upper west side:

 

[cantunamunch]

View attachment 205195

Yeh, I went out with a mask today at lunch - and came right back in. Didn't want to breathe while taking pics, DCist's one will do:

(obv. taken from Memorial Bridge with a telephoto, distances are *not* the same as in NYC pics)

 

[Philpug]

A preview of Reno in August. Now you get an idea what we deal with in NorCal/NV.

 

[Uncle-A]

We have the smoke from the Canadian fire up and down the east coast. The are recommending staying indoors especially the elderly and small children. The senior community that I live in has closed the pool for the weekend and we will probably not open during the week for a while. Some of the regular walkers are out walking in the KN95 masks from the pandemic. Even some of the people of all ages shopping at the local super market are wearing masks. I am just wondering when they will get the fire under control and how long it will take for the air to clear.

 

[scott43]

I suspect they won't get under control without mother nature's help. There's just too much bush and not enough people. Look for rain..

 

[scott43]

Little bit of rain forecast early next week and a bit more next Friday. We'll see what actually falls..

 

[TrueNorth]

View attachment 205195

Not something to brag about, but Ottawa peaked at about 500 on this chart today.