9-05-17 High Cascades Complex Smoke Forecast

For a downloadable, emailable PDF of this update, click here.

Morning winds will be downslope/down valley out of the east. Afternoon winds will become upslope/up valley out of the west to northwest 2 to 7 mph with gusts in the afternoon to 15 mph. Diamond Lake, Crater Lake and communities east of the Cascades will see relief in the AM and early afternoon hours, however, by 2:00 heavy smoke is expected to return. Without a break in the inversion, weather is expected to be unfavorable for smoke dispersal.  An inversion topping at 3000 to 5000 feet will hold smoke in and is unlikely to break. Under the inversion air quality will be particularly poor.  A 20 percent chance of thunderstorm development is in the forecast for the fire area.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Alert in and around the outlook area and is in effect until further notice. Wildfires burning in the region combined with forecast conditions will cause air quality levels to fluctuate and could be at unhealthy levels.

For additional information, please visit the web site at http://www.oregon.gov/deq.