The two biggest fires, Pineland Road in Clinch County, and Brantley County’s US 82 fire, are both largely uncontained (over 30k acres/10% and 5k acres/15% respectively). Here is this morning’s visible image from GOES East with some labels …
As you can see from the above image, concentrations can appear hundreds of miles from the fires themselves as the winds alternately dilute and concentrate the particulates. Smoke and air quality continue to be a problem well away from the fires. Here in Savannah air quality is in the bad and away from the coast (like Westside Chatham and further inland) approaches dangerous levels. If you have any sensitivities take precautions, and anyone who wants to wear a mask should not worry about looking goofy. Inside with running a/c and filters should be ok, I’m showing a PM2.5 reading of 55 in midtown, in the caution range, although the sensor at the Savannah L&A facility is showing “green” at 42. Macon is in the danger zone at 173! (below 50 is “good”, above 100 “unhealthy for sensitive people”, above 150 “unhealthy for everybody”).
These are only the two biggest fires. Just yesterday the Georgia Forestry Commission responded to 31 new fires. There is a burn ban across most of the state …
… so before you do any work outside check your equipment to ensure spark arresters are in good shape, if towing make sure no chains are dragging, etc. Don’t make a bad problem worse! For more information check the Georgia Forestry Commission wildfire update page.
So when will we get a break? There is some hope for rain this Saturday, and while it will be welcome and hopefully help the firefighting, there is only a 1 in 3 chance of more than half an inch, so it won’t do much to knock down the drought or improve soil moisture conditions. Normal rains might be on the way in May, so I’m afraid at the moment the outlook isn’t great. Will take a more detailed look tomorrow using the new mapping system.
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