Changes in Smoke Conditions
Posted by David A. Wright on August 19, 2002 at 09:26:39:
In Reply to: Re: McNalley Fire Still Smokin' posted by cecile on August 18, 2002 at 01:58:56:
The smoke from the McNalley fire changes day by day in the region. During the course of the fire, there have been clear days as well as days the smoke is so bad you can barely see a quarter mile.
In my bi-weekly travels between my job in Trona and home in Owens Valley, I've seen it perfectly clear in Searles Valley and then hit a wall of smoke somewhere along the trip. About a week ago, leaving Lone Pine about 5am on my way to work, it appeared to be clear and the stars were bright. A few miles later, approaching Dolomite (about midway between Lone Pine and Keeler) I hit a virtual wall of smoke so thick that I had to turn off the high beams due to reflection and the smoke smelled as if standing next to a burning building.
Here in the Owens Valley, it is clearer at dawn, progressively smokier during the day. I speculate that this is due to the fact that the fire lays down at night, then accelerates during the heat of the day.