Smoke from wildfires in Canada has already been making Virginia skies hazy for a couple of days. On this Friday, more of it will be descending lower in the atmosphere to pose the risk of breathing difficulties, especiallyfor the most vulnerable individuals.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Alert for most of the state except Southwest Virginia areas from the New River Valley westward, where there will be some haze from wildfire smoke but not as thick closer to the surface. In Cardinal News’ Southwest and Souhside coverage area, Alleghany, Botetourt, Roanoke, Franklin and Patrick counties and everything eastward are covered.
More than 800 wildfires are burning in the boreal forests of Canada presently, with a dense plume of smoke carried southeastward over the Great Lakes and into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. The densest smoke is expected to flow north of Virginia, possibly scraping the northern edge, but some smoke has become banked against the Appalachians farther south over most of Virginia.
The DEQ is forecasting smoke levels to reach Code Purple, or extremely unhealthy levels, in the northern tip of Virginia near Winchester, Code Red or unhealthy levels in the rest of Northern Virginia and the Richmond area, and Code Orange or unhealthy levels for sensitive groups in the Roanoke area. The DEQ considers sensitive groups to be “people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children.”
An increase in showers and thunderstorms and subtle changes in the upper-air flow are expected to gradually reduce smoke levels in Virginia through the weekend, but some issues could linger especially in northern, central and eastern parts of the commonwealth.
The smoke is an added summer pestilence on top of hot temperatures — widespread 90s are expected on this Friday afternoon — and long-term drought, as most of Virginia remains in drought levels ranging from moderate to extreme. Numerous showers and thunderstorms last week brought some relief especially to Southwest Virginia, and new rounds of showers and storms this weekend and next week may provide similar spotty relief. However, widespread general and frequent rain that would impove dry conditions regionwide remains elusive.
The heat and dryness have contributed to a 100-plus acre wildifre at Taylor Hollow in Rockbridge County, now reported as 40 percent contained after burning for 12 days. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests have 129 fire response personnel working to contain the blaze.
Journalist Kevin Myatt has been writing about weather for 20 years. His weekly column, appearing on Wednesdays, is sponsored by Oakey’s, a family-run, locally-owned funeral home with locations throughout the Roanoke Valley.
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