National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Hurricane and Storm Surge Watches Issued for the Northern Gulf Coast for Strengthening Tropical Storm Isaias

Tropical Storm Isaias is forecast to track toward the central Gulf Coast while strengthening into a hurricane on Thursday. There is an increasing risk of damaging hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge impacts along portions of the northern Gulf Coast Friday into Saturday. Isaias will bring heavy rainfall to the central Gulf Coast and much of the Southeast Friday into the weekend. Read More >

Smoke dispersal is categorized by using the Ventilation Rate. Ventilation Rate forecasts for a specific point can be found using the Fire Weather Dashboard. Click a spot on the map and scroll down to find daily and hourly Ventilation Rate values for the next few days.

 

Fire Weather Dashboard

 

The link above is configured to display smoke dispersal categories as shown here:

 

  Smoke Dispersal Vent. Rate, knot-feet (x1000)
     Excellent             150 or greater
     Very Good 100 to 149.99
     Good 60 to 99.99
     Fair 40 to 59.99
     Poor less than 40

 

Ventilation Rate = Transport Wind (kts) x Mixing Height (ft)