The screen shot above shows the fire and smoke conditions map at 2:05 p.m. Wednesday, September 13, 2011. View live Weatherunderground.com WunderMap showing fire and smoke coverage area.
A large satellite-detected forest fire has brought smoke and haze to Wisconsin and Illinois. Fires in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming have also brought haze to Illinois via South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri.
Satellite image of the smoke plume from the Pagami Creek Fire on Sunday, September 11, 2011. See more on this image, including and motion satellite image on the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Milwaukee/Sullivan page.
According to the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Milwaukee/Sullivan, Wisconsin, lightning started a wildfire known as the Pagami Creek Fire in the arrowhead of Minnesota about August 18, 2011. By Sunday, AUgust 18l, 2011, the fire grew to about 4500 acres when an impressive smoke plum also grove. On Tuesday, September 13, 2011 the fire had grown to 60,000 acres. Northwesterly winds brought smoke from the fire into Wisconsin and Illinois.
At 4 PM on September 13, 2011 short-term particulate matter levels were excessively high in southeast Wisconsin. According to the Department of Health Services (DHS) this can cause problems in sensitive individuals, including those with lung or cardiovascular disease. In healthy people, symptoms of smoke exposure usually include irritation of eyes, nose, and throat, or breathing discomfort. More severe symptoms may include chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing.
As of 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, the AIRNOW.GOV website from the U.S. EPA did not show any updates regarding particulate matter or smoke from the Minnesota wildfire/forest fire.
Depending on the smoke concentrations and an individual’s sensitivity to smoke, actions to take include remaining indoors with the doors and windows closed, using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter on air conditioners, reducing other sources of indoor air pollution, and leaving the area if an individual has particular sensitivity.
Heavier smoke may be headed our way from the Pagami Creek Fire in or near Superior National Forest this evening. Winds are expected to be from the north from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 and then return from the northwest through September 14, 2011.
Weather Underground, the nation’s first online weather service, began offering all an interactive map showing active wildland fires and associated smoke cover across the United States and Canada in July 2008.
Judging by Arlingtoncardinal.com web statics the most searches for “What smells in Chicago” etc. is originating from the following communities (of course statistics are skewed by size of community and proximity to Arlington Heights):
Arlington Heights
Schaumburg
Chicago
Mount Prospect
Palatine
Rolling Meadows
Des Plaines
Buffalo Grove
Roselle
Hoffman Estates
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Lake Zurich
Lombard
Northbrook
Round Lake
Wheeling
Itasca
Carpentersville
Elgin
Aurora
Barrington
Crystal Lake
Mundelein
Prospect Heighst
Wheaton
Wood Dale
Dekalb
Hanover ParkLemont
Naperville
Villa Park
See also …
AIRNOW.GOV Smoke from Agricultural and Forest Fires: How to Protect Your Family from the Health Effects of Smoke
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