News and opinion about wildland fire
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized12 Comments on Smoke forecast for August 22, 2020 
The map shows the forecast for the distribution of near-surface wildfire smoke at 10 a.m. MDT August 22, 2020.
NASA, below, says there is going to be more of the same next week — lots of smoke. They apparently use a different unit of measurement than NOAA, above.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized31 Comments on Smoke forecast for Friday morning, August 21 August 20, 2020 | 9:11 p.m. MDT
The map above shows the forecast for the distribution of vertically integrated smoke from wildfires at 6 a.m. MDT Friday August 21, 2020. It looks bleak for the western United States.
We are searching for a good, reliable, easy to understand, accurate predictor for wildfire smoke, after trying some that did not meet that description. The forecast above is for vertically integrated smoke, more than 1,000 feet above the ground. It should be most visible at sunrise and sunset, turning it beautifully orange or red depending on the density.
If this map and the one below, for 6 a.m. MDT Friday, seem to be accurate for your location, or not, let us know in a comment.
The map below predicts for 6 a.m. MDT Friday, near-surface smoke, technically within eight meters of the ground, which would have more of an effect on humans and animals with breathing difficulties. If you’re in one of the denser smoke areas you might be able to smell it. The little lines on the map are “wind barbs”, indicating the speed and direction of the wind. In our view they needlessly clutter the map.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Wildfire2 Comments on Smoke forecast for Sunday evening, August 16 
The map shows the forecast for the distribution of smoke from wildfires at 7 p.m. MDT August 16, 2020.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Wildfire1 Comment on Wildfire smoke forecast for 9 a.m. MDT August 16 August 15, 2020 | 6:46 p.m. MDT
The map above is the forecast for the distribution of smoke from wildfires at 9 a.m. MDT August 16, 2020. Locations where it will be most noticeable include areas in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and southern California.
UPDATED August 14, 2020 | 3:27 p.m. MDT
The map shows the predicted distribution of smoke from wildfires at 4 p.m. MDT August 14, 2020. Locations expected to impacted at that time will include parts of southern California, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Updated August 9, 2020 | 2:38 p.m. MDT
The map shows the distribution of smoke from vegetation fires at 1:58 p.m. MDT August 9, 2020. The largest producer is the Pine Gulch Fire in Colorado.
