3D Smoke

Satellite imagery shows fume moving inwards over caput (see below) in addition to our sunsets/sunrises confirm it.

But however the air character is rattling skillful close the surface, something shown past times the measurements of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (see below), amongst the close sea score sites existence greenish (good air quality).   But banknote that Rainier in addition to a few sites close the Cascade slopes are yellowish (moderate air quality)

In contrast, caput downwards to California, in addition to fume has engulfed the lower atmosphere, equally beautifully illustrated past times the motion-picture present of the portion to a greater extent than or less Mt. Shasta sent to me past times Kean Stump.

The NOAA HRRR-smoke forecast predicted this situation. The forecast for amount fume inwards the column at v PM today was scary.

But the fume forecast at the surface at the same fourth dimension was pretty benign for the Puget Sound lowlands (see below).  Plenty of fume inwards eastern Washington in addition to California at depression levels, though

In contrast, at that topographic point was much to a greater extent than fume predicted at 6000 ft.

The argue for this pattern?  There was northerly (from the north) winds at depression levels over western WA, that brought inwards construct clean air from the due north in addition to west, piece southerly catamenia aloft moved the California in addition to Oregon fume northward inwards a higher house us aloft---high plenty that it wasn't mixed to the surface.

We tin present this past times creating backward trajectories of the air at diverse levels inwards a higher house Seattle--telling us where the air came from over us. This plot (from the wonderful NOAA HYSPLIT model) shows the trajectories ending over Seattle at 3 heights (100 meters--red, 1500 meters--blue, in addition to 2500 m--green) at v AM this morning. The 100m trajectory moved through the Strait of Juan de Fuca...nice construct clean bounding main air.  But the higher trajectories cam from the due south (blue in addition to green)--in the middle of fume land.

We tin equally good create forwards trajectories that depict where air volition go...here are the forwards trajectories from a place over northern California, starting at the same 3 elevations.  The low-level smoky air (red) moves northward, piece rising substantially (to virtually 4000 meters).  Less rising for air starting at 1500 meters.

The bottom line:  the low-level northerly catamenia is protecting us today, allowing the fume to remain aloft.    

Whether nosotros instruct fume to the surface is critically theme on how depression the upper fume layer drops.....if it gets below 5000 ft in addition to thence vertical mixing tin convey it downwards to the surface during the day.

The province of affairs should hold upward like on Wednesday.....