2017 Fire and Smoke Impact Reports / Maps

[happycamper0313]

We have Half Dome/Cloud's Rest permits this weekend - does this fire make it useless to go? My group is pushing to go to Yosemite as the park is tweeting that it's open but I worry that the fire spreads and we get stuck when it's time to leave.

[nasvik]

We have Half Dome/Cloud's Rest permits this weekend - does this fire make it useless to go? My group is pushing to go to Yosemite as the park is tweeting that it's open but I worry that the fire spreads and we get stuck when it's time to leave.

I have a permit for Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne for this weekend and I've decided to bail. The river was my biggest concern, but it's currently at safe levels. But the smoke from this fire is dense. Breathing it at altitude while exercising isn't healthy.

If anyone has firsthand accounts of the Yosemite high country right now I'd love to hear from them.

Paul

[maverick]

Please use these previously posted links to access the most current smoke conditions.

https://www.airnow.gov
http://californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com/

[Wandering Daisy]

nasvik- although it is tedious, the NWS forecasts show smoke areas. Just click on a location and you will get smoke alerts. Lower elevations both west side and east side show smoke alerts, a band at higher elevations, south of Mammoth, seem to be better. Of course forecasts are just that- can change any time. Also, the east side web cams show some haze in Owens Valley. Yosemite valley web cams show lots of smoke.

[Wandering Daisy]

The smoke alerts are done by county on the NWS site. But each point you click on, will indicate if that particular area is forecast to have smoke or not.

I have found that often the higher you go the better. I agree, that GCT will likely have smoke, as well as anything on the west side north and east of Yosemite Valley. Last year when there was smoke in Humphreys Basin due to fires, it would be clear in the morning and smoke would drift in later in the afternoon. Thus, any report of someone recently in an area is not necessarily an indication of smoke conditions.

[cthenn]

If you want to see actual smoke coverage, check out the NASA Worldview satellite imagery. Obviously it's just a snapshot in time, but these images are pretty amazing. Knowing the general wind forecasts can get you a pretty good idea how bad smoke may be.

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/?p ... =3&al=true

edit, link didn't post well, but if you enter the whole thing it's a zoom into the fire complex.

[maverick]

70,096 acres and 10% containment.

[cantare]

When I went thru on 7/18 Tuolumne Meadows was clear enough to enjoy a lunch stop...but the valley was full of smoke, similar to pics above. You couldn't pay me to hike valley to half dome or any rim destination under those conditions! It looks like it cleared up a bit yesterday but the fire is still there.

Timelapse 3-panel webcam covering last several days
BlueSky model smoke coverage forecast (choose latest FireWx 1-km Central Ca)

[maverick]

Inciweb:

The North Guard Fire in Kings Canyon National Park was reported on Tuesday, July 18 2017, by a wilderness ranger who spotted the smoke. Located east of North Guard Creek and south of Bubbs Creek, the fire is burning at approximately 9,500 feet in steep, rocky terrain with widely-spaced timber. Due to the remote location, elevation, minimal rate of spread, and fuel types, fire staff are monitoring this wildfire and ultimately allowing it to self-extinguish.

The North Guard Fire was patrolled by helicopter on Saturday, July 22 2017. Its current size is less than one acre with limited growth potential. However, wilderness users in Kings Canyon National Park should be advised that smoke from the North Guard Fire may be visible from a distance.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5408/

[maverick]

Inyo NF:

Fire crews are responding to the Goodale Fire. This fire is located in the mountains above Goodale Campground.
The fire is 1/10 of an acre and at approximately 8,000 ft. in elevation. The cause is under investigation, but there was active lightning in the area. There is no threat to life or property at this time. Smoke is visible along the Highway 395 corridor.