Although Utah was smacked by a severe downslope windstorm, cutting power for 170,000 (with 5,500 still powerless), we should perhaps feel fortunate as others are facing much more dire consequences.
This morning's satellite imagery is about as ominous as it gets. Smoke from western wildfires has spread across much of the continental Unites States following both northern and southern trajectories. We're in relatively clear air at the moment in northern Utah, although southern Utah is better. Meanwhile, slow moving Tropical Storm Sally looms off the Gulf Coast, will likely intensify into a hurricane, and is expected to bring storm surge, flooding, and other impacts.
Source: CIRA
Purple Air sensors show much of California, Oregon, and Washington is experiencing unhealthy air quality, with many areas hazardous. Across the southern US, moderate air quality readings extend at least all the way to Texas due to smoke.
Source: purpleair.com
I'm not going to try and summarize the direct impacts of the wildfires here. I can't even keep up with it. Lives have been lost. Communities have been wiped out. The situation is sad and tragic and my heart goes out to all affected.
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