Showery Sunday
Pagami Creek Fire Headlines:
-Gusty winds to 25 mph in fire zone Saturday
-Sunday shower chances increasing in fire zone
-Microcast: Polly, Koma, Malberg, Alice & northern Insula lakes most at risk
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Smoke plume visible again Friday from space:
Clear sunny skies Friday revealed the smoke plume again on weather satellites. You can clearly see the plume on the GOES 1km visible satellite. Note how the shifting SW winds are now pushing the plume into Canada toward Lake Nippigon.
Air Qulity affected by smoke:
Smoke will blow northeat into Canada this weekend. Thunder Bay may notice some of the smoke, but the brunt of the plume may slide just west.
The MPCA Air Qulity Index has shown spikes in particulate matter (smoke) in recent days as winds have shifted around the blaze. Here's the recent data from Ely.
Sunday: Higher humidity, showers likely
The forecast is looking potentially slightly better for firefighters Sunday. I still think winds may gust to near 30 mph at times, but a frontal system moving through will bring higher humidity and at least some scattered showers.
It looks like rainfall totals will be on the lighter side though, probably less than .25" in most of the fire zone.
Outlook for next week:
Monday: Sunny & dry. High 70. West winds 5-15 mph.
Tuesday: Chance of showers. High 60. Winds light & variable.
Wednesday: Clearing & cool. High 59. Wind NW 5-10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny & dry. High 62. Wind SW 5-10 mph.
Friday through Sunday: Mainly sunny, windy and warmer. Highs in the 70s. Winds may gust to 30mph with more active fire behavior.
PH