Where there's smoke...

[gjmalcyon]

The GOES page has some images showing the smoke.

Here's the link to the Northeast sector default 2-hour image loop:

GOES-East - Sector view: Northeast - GeoColor - NOAA / NESDIS / STAR

Near real-time publication of GOES-East and GOES-West images from NOAA/NESDIS/STAR

www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov

It's pretty bad.

 

[chazmo]

Nice, gj. I was looking for something like that.

 

[gjmalcyon]

Nice, gj. I was looking for something like that.

Sometimes your local weather radar can pick up a smoke plume from a nearby fire, but this event is too diffuse for that.

It was really smoky where I live on Saturday, smelling like a forest fire was happening in the next town over with visibility down to less than a mile. Turns out it was in a section of the Pine Barrens about 15 miles away and the local weather radar was able to show the smoke plume passing directly over us.

 

[chazmo]

Sometimes your local weather radar can pick up a smoke plume from a nearby fire, but this event is too diffuse for that.

It was really smoky where I live on Saturday, smelling like a forest fire was happening in the next town over with visibility down to less than a mile. Turns out it was in a section of the Pine Barrens about 15 miles away and the local weather radar was able to show the smoke plume passing directly over us.

Ah, that makes sense. I was very surprised that it was the Quebec fire(s) that you were experiencing with strong smells that far away. So, right now, it looks like NJ is in the clear and the Canadian stuff is really only affecting New England states (and New York).

 

[James Hart]

If it's outdoor work, James, that's a good decision. However, temperatures are cool. And, even if it's Beijing-style air quality, it still feels pretty comfortable and I'm not smelling much here in central MA. Anyway, wise move, my friend!

Definitely staying in! Just had the dogs out and it is even smokier than yesterday... here is the noon view from my desk!

 

[GGJaguar]

It's worse today. Can't even see the sun! Tomorrow is supposed to be better which will be a relief.

 

[jp]

I feel for you guys. In Oregon during the wildfire season, the skies look like the end of times--it's really scary.

 

[gjmalcyon]

Ah, that makes sense. I was very surprised that it was the Quebec fire(s) that you were experiencing with strong smells that far away. So, right now, it looks like NJ is in the clear and the Canadian stuff is really only affecting New England states (and New York).

No, it's pretty bad in NJ and going to get worse. This GOES image was about 15 minutes old when I posted it. The heaviest area of smoke is currently across PA and central NJ and heading southeast:

 

[chazmo]

I feel for you guys. In Oregon during the wildfire season, the skies look like the end of times--it's really scary.

jp, that's really bad. Do you wear filter masks when this happens?

 

[jp]

jp, that's really bad. Do you wear filter masks when this happens?

Yeah, we have to. The air can get really bad making it hard to breathe.

 

[gjmalcyon]

The almost due west view out of my 21st floor office window in Philly at 4:30 pm today. Visibility is about 2 miles at this point.

 

[chazmo]

Yeah, it was like that here yesterday, gj. Not as bad today. That's awful. Anyone know if these fires are getting anywhere near contained? Must be 100s of acres worth!

 

[Boneman]

We have a wildfire what seems like every other day here in CA, nothing unusual. To answer the question about how long it can linger, really depends, but one fire here had smoke in the air for the whole month of September, during the height of the blaze, ash was falling around like snow. So we just close up the windows and turn on the air purifier, which I recommend everyone get and run constantly

 

[schoolie]

Air purifiers help . We have like 6 in our house, Unfortunately, it happens every summer here.

 

[fronobulax]

The weather frogs are telling us about air quality alerts locally beginning tonight. I confess that is an improvement over trying to make news about sonic booms.

I do thank folks for the pictures since I now know what to expect

 

[GAD]

View from my window at about 5pm

 

[GGJaguar]

Yeesh, the sky is burning. Air quality is supposed to be better today, but still not great.

 

[GGJaguar]

 

[chazmo]

NJ and NJ seem to be getting hammered right now (Thursday morning). It's not bad at ground level here in central MA today. Good luck everyone. If you can smell this thing where you are, I recommend a particle filter mask folks (see rzmask.com). If nothing else, break out the COVID masks. Be well, friends!

 

[James Hart]

Sun / sky almost look normal, smoke smell has left... still going to wait another day to resume outdoor activities beyond letting the dogs run in the yard (we join them) a few times over the day.