Wildfire smoke on your health

How weather impacts smoke and fire spread

Forecast model map shows light pink smoke particles lingering into Saturday although more unhealthy darker red levels remain confined near the bigger fires around Valdosta.

JACKSONVILLE, FL – It didn't take much to set a 400 acre fire ablaze in Nassau county when the weather conditions were just right to set the woods on fire. Hot sunshine combined with low humidity Wednesday stoking the rapid fire west of Jacksonville.

The dangers are clear; 2 homes destroyed and dozens of structures burned.  Weather lent a helpful hand spreading a fire from careless backyard burning. But by Thursday, the cloud cover and humidity is assisting suppression efforts and the blaze is 65% controlled.

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Smoke can impact your breathing in ways dependent on weather.

Wind can direct plumes your way that contain toxic fine particles (particulate matter, or PM). These microscopic particles also cause burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis. 

At night smokes collects near the ground when air cools more then the air just above the surface. This drops wind speed as it detaches from swifter wind aloft.

Short-term exposures to particles (hours or days) can aggravate lung disease, causing asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and may also increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. 

During the afternoon wind typically increases with higher dispersion rates mixing away dangerous particulates. 

The downside is breezy conditions send sparks or embers flying and new fires jump called spotting.

The FORECAST has some good news Thursday with "Very Good" dispersion levels but drops to "Generally Good" Friday as winds back off.  Saturday night's calm conditions will reduce visibility (haze) around western Duval, Nassau and Baker counties.

NE Florida is experiencing average dryness and fares much better than Georgia or SW Florida but we need rain.  Jacksonville rainfall runs almost 3 inches behind for the year. Only a low chance for showers are in the forecast Sunday evening.

 

 


About the Author:

After covering the weather from every corner of Florida and doing marine research in the Gulf, Mark Collins settled in Jacksonville to forecast weather for The First Coast.