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Post by divtal on Sept 9, 2020 19:56:06 GMT
The wildfires on the west coast are, of course, causing unimaginable damage, suffering to many residents, and enormous challenges to fire fighters.
While much of the Bay Area is being spared flames at the moment, the light ... or lack thereof ... is truly bizarre. I'm writing this at 12:40 PM. San Francisco is as dark as it is at 9 PM. The street lights are still on. And, it's eerie.
A thick layer of fog has rolled in, which isn't unusual. But, the denser fog is holding the incredible amount of accumulated smoke above it. What little sun is able to illuminate the sky, gives it a deep, glowing red.
Much of the smoke aloft is blowing south from Oregon/Washington. I'm worried about friends, there. So far, everyone I've talked to is OK.
Our members from Australia can, probably, relate. Last year was so trying for them, in terms of wildfire.
And, some still ask "what global warming?"
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Post by enigma72 on Sept 9, 2020 20:11:16 GMT
I worry about those actually in the fires too Divtal. But our suffering is real too! My lungs hurt. And I just brought the trash cans in! Otherwise I've been inside. My eyes sting. My car is covered with ash. It is dark because of the smoke/ash in the air. End times? I feel selfish . I know people have lost homes and lives. But this is horrible for all around here. Did you hear the smoke was causing advisories in Utah?? This is crazy. I change the air filters every week and should do it more Stay safe divtal!! HUGS divtal and Ass_E9
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Post by wickedkittiesmom on Sept 9, 2020 20:43:11 GMT
I hope all of you stay safe, wildfires are terrible. I remember when I lived in NM, I would see those big planes overhead that were carrying water? to dump on the fires. We never had a fire close to us luckily but sometimes the air quality was poor due to the fires in other states. I feel so bad for all the wildlife that is being killed.
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Post by divtal on Sept 9, 2020 21:06:50 GMT
Enigma, don't feel selfish! And, I'm glad that you can stay inside. We all have emotions, and there are needs for us, and our loved ones. Although, I understand how you feel. When my brother was evacuated, a couple of weeks ago, he felt guilty at being happy that the fire was moving away from his area ... he knew that it was burning toward other communities. SF isn't, really, in much danger from the fires. There's too much water around us, from all but the south. And, the winds don't support flames from the south coming our way. Right now, the fog is keeping the smoke at altitude. So we're not smelling it. But, the ash, being heavier, is falling everywhere. The sun is more overhead, now, and the ambient light is a bit brighter. It looks like (maybe) 6:30 AM. The parked cars on the street -- including mine -- are filthy. Car washes, will make a fortune. As we approach sunset, my guess is that it will become redder, as the sun has to filter through more layers of particles of "stuff."
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Post by klawrencio79 on Sept 9, 2020 21:07:07 GMT
Terrifying stuff. Stay safe, divtal.
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Post by divtal on Sept 9, 2020 22:24:34 GMT
Calling Nutsberry and ZR, both in the Seattle area. Are you guys OK?
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Post by GoodbyePorkPieHat on Sept 9, 2020 23:19:37 GMT
SW Washington, just north of Portland checking in...
We're getting a strong east wind, but it was much stronger on Monday. We had fire smoke/haze in the air then, but it's relatively clear right now. I've been through a few bad fires here and in Montana.
Hoping everyone will be O.K.
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Post by divtal on Sept 10, 2020 0:37:40 GMT
Hat, good to hear from you. I didn't realize that you're in Washington state. I love the northwest. Growing up, I spent every summer in Salem, visiting my grandparents. And, I went to school there. I have so many friends from Oregon/Washington.
I suppose that we have to expect some trade-offs, in life. It's lovely to live in areas of glorious greenery, but fire is an inherent danger.
Be well.
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Post by GoodbyePorkPieHat on Sept 10, 2020 1:04:26 GMT
Hat, good to hear from you. I didn't realize that you're in Washington state. Vancouver. Update @ 6:00 pm: Now the skies are cloudy and darker with an orange tint, especially to the south. There's a freaky orange hue to everything, like looking through orange-colored glasses. I needed to turn on the patio light. Our east wind is bringing smoke in from the Columbia Gorge fires, but there is no detectable smoke smell in the air, at least not where I live. We do have a "Red Flag Warning" for air quality, and it's worse to the south (Portland). I'm not affected though and don't expect that I will be. Note that you'll need an N95 mask to filter out the smoke if it's heavy where any of you are. The typical COVID/medical masks are not enough. If you have a HEPA filter in your HVAC system or in a stand-alone room air purifier, that will help.
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Post by divtal on Sept 10, 2020 2:14:07 GMT
Just hearing about Portland/Vancouver makes me long to be on the Amtrak Coast-Starlight to Seattle. What a lovely journey that is.
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Post by GoodbyePorkPieHat on Sept 10, 2020 14:32:41 GMT
Wow. Although I can only see it through a narrow gap in the trees from one spot in my back yard, the sun is a deep orange this morning, and you can stare right at it. Freaky.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Sept 10, 2020 14:49:47 GMT
Waaaaay way east and the sun is being affected here as well .... it's even being mentioned on the "local" weather stations.
Late morning sun was not its usual color .. it had a pinky-orange look to it.
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Post by enigma72 on Sept 10, 2020 15:45:14 GMT
Enigma, don't feel selfish! And, I'm glad that you can stay inside. We all have emotions, and there are needs for us, and our loved ones. Although, I understand how you feel. When my brother was evacuated, a couple of weeks ago, he felt guilty at being happy that the fire was moving away from his area ... he knew that it was burning toward other communities. SF isn't, really, in much danger from the fires. There's too much water around us, from all but the south. And, the winds don't support flames from the south coming our way. Right now, the fog is keeping the smoke at altitude. So we're not smelling it. But, the ash, being heavier, is falling everywhere. The sun is more overhead, now, and the ambient light is a bit brighter. It looks like (maybe) 6:30 AM. The parked cars on the street -- including mine -- are filthy. Car washes, will make a fortune. As we approach sunset, my guess is that it will become redder, as the sun has to filter through more layers of particles of "stuff." You really helped me divtal. The story about your brother's conflicted feelings hit home. I know I am not as bad off as most. But I am experiencing hardship. Thanks for helping me understand the conflict!
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Post by enigma72 on Sept 10, 2020 15:46:23 GMT
Waaaaay way east and the sun is being affected here as well .... it's even being mentioned on the "local" weather stations. Late morning sun was not its usual color .. it had a pinky-orange look to it. Look up your air quality index bat. I heard Utah was having alerts!? It is even further east? Crazy!
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Post by enigma72 on Sept 10, 2020 15:47:42 GMT
Wow. Although I can only see it through a narrow gap in the trees from one spot in my back yard, the sun is a deep orange this morning, and you can stare right at it. Freaky. Here in the central valley of Calif I don't even see the sun. It is like one of our foggy winter days.
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Post by GoodbyePorkPieHat on Sept 10, 2020 16:31:57 GMT
You can smell the smoke here now - for the first time (at least that I've noticed), and we do have an air quality alert.
On a positive note though, our forecast high of 98F today has dropped down to 91F.
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Post by enigma72 on Sept 10, 2020 16:44:20 GMT
You can smell the smoke here now - for the first time (at least that I've noticed), and we do have an air quality alert. On a positive note though, our forecast high of 98F today has dropped down to 91F. Our temp is also going to be about 10 degrees less than forecasted. I finally saw the sun. So eerie! Be safe. Can you stay inside? I can today
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Post by GoodbyePorkPieHat on Sept 10, 2020 16:53:49 GMT
You can smell the smoke here now - for the first time (at least that I've noticed), and we do have an air quality alert. On a positive note though, our forecast high of 98F today has dropped down to 91F. Our temp is also going to be about 10 degrees less than forecasted. I finally saw the sun. So eerie! Be safe. Can you stay inside? I can today Thanks for the concern (and back atcha'). It's not too worrisome. In fact, I was out in the back yard and didn't notice it until I came out front, and I don't notice it inside. It's probably because the wind has shifted toward the south. If need be, I do have a couple of room air purifiers with HEPA filters - not sure if the filters are good or if I have backups, but I can clean them (I think). At least I'm not very sensitive to smoke, not at a low level anyway.
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Post by enigma72 on Sept 11, 2020 15:37:41 GMT
SW Washington, just north of Portland checking in... We're getting a strong east wind, but it was much stronger on Monday. We had fire smoke/haze in the air then, but it's relatively clear right now. I've been through a few bad fires here and in Montana. Hoping everyone will be O.K. How is it today ? Our air quality is bad! I heard you were getting winds to blow the smoke away
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Post by enigma72 on Sept 11, 2020 15:42:26 GMT
Just hearing about Portland/Vancouver makes me long to be on the Amtrak Coast-Starlight to Seattle. What a lovely journey that is. Ju Our air quality is horrible today. Hope all is well with you divtal I have to tell you something funny. I was talking to my daughter in Florida. She said she was going to play tennis. My reaction: No! The air quality is too bad. But I didn't say it. Just thought it. Then I remembered that wasn't a problem for her . Lol Guess I am accustomed to the air quality
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