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Post by Poor Richard on May 17, 2023 19:56:26 GMT -7
AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT...
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air
quality alert for all counties in Montana in effect until 0900AM
5/18/2023.
An Air Quality Alert means that particulates have been trending
upwards and that an exceedence of the 24 hour National Ambient Air
Quality Standard (NAAQS) has occurred or may occur in the near
future.
As of 0400 PM, Particulate levels in Broadus and Miles City are Very
Unhealthy.
As of 0400 PM, Particulate levels in Havre, Libby, Malta, Sidney and
Thompson Falls are Unhealthy.
As of 0400 PM, Particulate levels in Cut Bank, Billings, Flathead
Valley, and Seeley Lake are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.
As of 0400 PM, Particulate levels in Bozeman, Butte, Frenchtown,
Lewistown, Missoula, Sleeping Giant, Great Falls, and Helena are
Moderate.
When air quality is Very Unhealthy... State and local health
officials recommend that people with respiratory or heart disease,
the elderly, and children should avoid any outdoor activity;
everyone else should avoid prolonged exertion.
When air quality is Unhealthy... State and local health officials
recommend that people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly,
and children should avoid prolonged exertion; everyone else should
limit prolonged exertion.
When air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups... State and local
health officials recommend that people with respiratory or heart
disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion.
When air quality is Moderate... State and local health officials
recommend that unusually sensitive people should consider reducing
prolonged or heavy exertion.
For more information visit the Montana Department of Environmental
Quality at todaysair.mtdeq.us |
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Post by Poor Richard on May 18, 2023 9:10:51 GMT -7
..AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT...May 18, 2023
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air
quality alert for Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon,
Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Deer Lodge,
Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley,
Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark,
Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula,
Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River,
Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders,
Sheridan, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole,
Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, and Yellowstone counties in
effect until 900am 5/19/2023 due to elevated particulate levels from
wildfire smoke This alert will be updated again at 900am 5/19/2023.
An Air Quality Alert means that particulates have been trending
upwards and that an exceedence of the 24 hour National Ambient Air
Quality Standard (NAAQS) has occurred or may occur in the near
future.
As of 900am, Particulate levels in Birney, Broadus, Columbia Falls,
Condon, Cut Bank, and Heart Butte are Unhealthy
As of 900am, Particulate levels in Eureka, Helena, Lewistown, Libby,
Sidney, Superior, Thompson Falls, and Trout Creek are Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
As of 900am, Particulate levels in Arlee, Billings, Bozeman, Butte,
Clearwater, Drummond, Great Falls, Lincoln, Lolo, Malta, Missoula,
Philipsburg, Potomac, Rainy Lake, Rock Creek, Seeley Lake,
Stevensville, White Sulphur Springs are Moderate
When air quality is Unhealthy... State and local health officials
recommend that people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly,
and children should avoid prolonged exertion; everyone else should
limit prolonged exertion.
When air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups... State and local
health officials recommend that people with respiratory or heart
disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion.
When air quality is Moderate... State and local health officials
recommend that unusually sensitive people should consider reducing
prolonged or heavy exertion.
For more information visit the Montana Department of Environmental
Quality at todaysair.mtdeq.us |
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Post by Poor Richard on May 18, 2023 9:13:11 GMT -7
Canada's Alberta blanketed by smoke as wildfire battle continues Eyes burning? Congested? Alberta is on fire and the smoke is drifting south to Montana.
Reuters reports "Smoke blanketed the skies over much of Alberta on Wednesday as firefighters from Canada and the U.S. battled raging wildfires that have prompted evacuations, disrupted rail service and shut energy production in Canada's main oil-producing province.
Hot and dry conditions have triggered an intense and early start to wildfire season in Alberta. As of Wednesday, there were 91 wildfires burning in the forest protection area of Alberta, including 27 out of control.
A cold front this week eased historically high temperatures and helped firefighting, which led authorities to lift some evacuation orders on Tuesday. The number of evacuees has dropped to about 12,000 from a peak of more than 30,000 people earlier this month, Alberta officials said at a briefing on Wednesday.
Still, lack of rain and higher temperatures forecast for later this week mean conditions for wildfires remain extremely volatile, Alberta's Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said at the briefing.
The cold front brought strong winds that have carried wildfire smoke to neighboring provinces and left a large part of Western Canada with poor air quality.
"It's clear that the smoke from these fires continues to be a concern for both health and visibility," Ellis said, urging people in areas of very poor air quality to stay indoors.
Air quality in cities including Calgary has deteriorated to category 10+, the worst level on Environment Canada's Air Quality Health Index, indicating "very high risk."
Winds are expected to continue to weaken into Wednesday night, but any improvement in air quality will probably be temporary, said Jesse Wagar, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.
"There is some improvement expected, but it'll likely be short lived just because how many fires there are ... we're likely to have smoke moving from really any direction," Wagar said.
Concerns about the wildfires have also led to benchmark Canadian heavy crude prices to rise to their highest levels in months.
On Wednesday, consultancy firm Rystad Energy said nearly 2.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of Alberta oil sands production in May is at risk in "very high" or "extreme" wildfire danger rating zones.
Of estimated May production volumes, about 60% are currently subject to extreme wildfire danger levels, with the remaining 40% subject to very high danger, Oslo-based Rystad said.
More than 2,500 firefighters, including personnel from Canadian and U.S. agencies as well as the Canadian army, were battling the wildfires in Alberta.
The widespread blazes have put Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's disaster management skills - as well as her party's policies - under the microscope ahead of a provincial election on May 29.
The province has issued a plea to some 20,000 public servants, encouraging anyone with firefighting experience to volunteer to battle the blazes, the Toronto Star newspaper has reported, citing an email sent to employees.
The wildfire activity has caused rail disruptions, but the impact is unlikely to have credit implications for the Canadian grain handling sector, said Moritz Steinbauer, vice president of diversified industries at ratings agency DBRS Morningstar.
Reporting by Arunima Kumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri" |
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Post by Poor Richard on May 18, 2023 10:43:33 GMT -7
Smoky skies to continue into Thursday KBZK reports "Our first bout of thick wildfire smoke moved across Montana overnight and throughout the day as a Canadian cold front dropped in from the North.
There are large wildfires burning in northern Alberta NW of Edmonton. The thick wildfire smoke moved in behind a cold front overnight.
Air quality quickly deteriorated to the point of the worst rating of hazardous for short periods across central and northern Montana Wednesday morning.
There is an Air Quality Alert up mostly east of the divide through Thursday morning but could be extended if conditions don’t improve."
Read the full story here. |
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Post by Poor Richard on May 20, 2023 8:17:34 GMT -7
Saturday May 21, 2023 Air Quality Alert ...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT...
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air
quality alert for all counties in Montana, which is in effect until
9AM 5/21/2023 due to elevated particulate levels from wildfire smoke
This alert will be updated again at 9AM 5/21/2023.
An Air Quality Alert means that particulates have been trending
upwards and that an exceedence of the 24 hour National Ambient Air
Quality Standard (NAAQS) has occurred or may occur in the near
future.
As of 9AM, Particulate levels in Great Falls and Helena are Unhealthy
for Sensitive Groups
As of 9AM, Particulate levels in Billings, Bozeman, Broadus, Butte,
Cut Bank, Dillon, Frenchtown, Hamilton, Lewistown, Libby, Missoula,
Sidney, Thompson Falls, West Yellowstone are Moderate
When air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups... State and local
health officials recommend that people with respiratory or heart
disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion.
When air quality is Moderate... State and local health officials
recommend that unusually sensitive people should consider reducing
prolonged or heavy exertion.
For more information visit the Montana Department of Environmental
Quality at todaysair.mtdeq.us |
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