Analysis of Meteorological 

Conditions for the Yakima 

Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 

28 September 2009

Miriam Rorig, Robert Solomon, Candace Krull, Janice 

Peterson, Julia Ruthford, and Brian Potter

Pacific Northwest 

Research Station

Research Paper

PNW-RP-597

October 2013

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

DEPAR TMENT OF AGRICULT URE
Authors

Miriam Rorig, Robert Solomon, and Brian Potter are research meteorologists 

and Candace Krull is a meteorologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences 

Laboratory, 400 34th Street, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98103; Janice Peterson is 

an air quality specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Mount 

Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Everett, WA 98201; Julia Ruthford is a 

meteorologist, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, 4241 NE 122nd Ave., 

Portland, OR 97230.

Cover photograph by James Bailey, Naches Ranger District, USDA Forest Service.

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Abstract

Rorig, Miriam; Solomon, Robert; Krull, Candace; Peterson, Janice; Ruthford, Julia; Potter, Brian. 2013. Analysis of meteorological conditions for the 

Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009. Res. Pap. PNWRP-597. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific 

Northwest Research Station. 30 p.

On 28 September 2009, the Naches Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee 

National Forest in south-central Washington state ignited an 800-ha prescribed 

fire. Later that afternoon, elevated PM2.5 concentrations and visible smoke were 

reported in Yakima, Washington, about 40 km east of the burn unit. The U.S. 

National Weather Service forecast for the day had predicted good dispersion 

conditions and winds that would carry the smoke to the less populated area north 

of Yakima. We undertook a case study of this event to determine whether conditions leading to the intrusion of the smoke plume into Yakima could have been 

predicted before the burn was ignited, either from forecasts and model output 

available on the day of the burn or from higher resolution model output made 

available only after the event. We evaluated three different meteorological model 

predictions: (1) 4-km resolution hourly weather predictions from the Weather 

Research and Forecasting (WRF) model that were available to forecasters on the 

day of the burn; (2) 4-km resolution WRF predictions at 10-minute intervals; 

and (3) 1.33-km resolution WRF predictions at 10-minute intervals. We found 

that predicted winds from the 4- and 1.33-km model resolutions compared well 

with each other, whereas there were some differences in the predicted planetary 

boundary layer height over Yakima. We also used the high-resolution 1.33-km 

WRF output to generate smoke dispersion predictions using the BlueSky Smoke 

Modeling Framework. Results showed that forecasters and regulators using either 

the model output available on the day of the burn or the higher-resolution model 

output generated afterward, would not have anticipated the meteorological conditions that resulted in the smoke intrusion that day.

Keywords: Smoke dispersion, smoke modeling, fire weather, decision support.
ii

Summary

Prescribed fire is one of many techniques used by federal, state, and private 

landowners to manage forest and range lands. Although prescribed burning is an 

effective method for reducing hazardous fuels and restoring ecosystems, problems arise when smoke affects nearby communities. Such effects occurred when 

managers on the Naches Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National 

Forest, located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Washington 

state, ignited a prescribed underburn in late September 2009. 

Weather forecasts obtained the day of the burn, including a spot weather 

forecast specifically requested for the burn location, indicated both surface and 

transport winds would be from the southwest, and an approaching cold front 

would ensure mixing heights would be sufficient to allow for good smoke dispersion. Based on these forecasts, state regulators approved the burn. Ignition commenced at approximately noon local time and continued for several hours. During 

active burning and shortly after ignition was completed, smoke was observed to 

disperse to the northeast, rising to 600 to 1200 m above ground level over mostly 

unpopulated or sparsely populated areas. At approximately 16:00 local time (4:00 

pm), smoke was evident in the city of Yakima, Washington, located about 40-km 

east of the burn unit. Visibility was significantly reduced, and at the same time, an 

air quality monitor in downtown Yakima recorded elevated hourly average PM2.5

concentrations for several hours, with the maximum 1-hour reading above 

100 μg/m3. 

The purpose of this study was to analyze the forecasts and observational 

data that were available on the day of the burn, and to determine if, in hindsight, 

there was evidence that would have prompted the burners or regulators to cancel 

the burn that day or stop ignition earlier. We analyzed the meteorological model 

output that was available to the decisionmakers in real time, and also obtained 

higher resolution (both spatial and temporal) model output that became available 

only after the fact. We also used the higher resolution meteorological model output 

as input to smoke dispersion models. There was no indication, either in the low- or 

high-resolution model output, that smoke from this prescribed burn would affect 

Yakima. More observations (both meteorological and air quality) are needed to 

understand the meteorological conditions that could cause a smoke intrusion into 

Yakima, so that burning under similar conditions can be avoided in the future.
iii

Contents

1 Introduction

3 Methods

3 Meteorological and Air Quality Observations

7 Meteorological Model Predictions

8 Results

8 Surface and Upper Air Observations

10 WRF Model Predictions

14 BlueSky Smoke Concentrations and Trajectories

25 Discussion

27 Conclusions

28 Acknowledgments

28 English Equivalents

29 Literature Cited

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Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Introduction

Prescribed burning is an important tool used by land managers to mitigate potential 

future impacts from destructive wildfires, and to restore the natural role of fire 

in ecosystems. There are several potential barriers to obtaining approval for prescribed burning, including negative perceptions of fire and smoke by the general 

public, air quality regulations, and risk of smoke intrusions (Haines et al. 2001). 

When smoke from a prescribed burn affects local communities, it can become even 

more difficult to obtain approval for future burning. In this study, we undertook a 

detailed case study of a prescribed underburn to determine whether we could, from 

model output or observations, identify the meteorological conditions that resulted in 

a smoke intrusion in a nearby community. 

Located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range in south-central Washington state, the Naches Ranger District marks the southernmost extent of land 

managed by the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The Naches Ranger District 

is bordered on the north and west primarily by public forest lands, and to the 

south by the Yakama Indian Reservation. To the east is the greater Yakima Valley 

area, a region characterized by fertile agricultural lands and containing the city of 

Yakima, which had a 2010 population of 91,067 and a metropolitan population of 

243,231. The forest lands of the Naches Ranger District are highly fire-dependent, 

and the Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest, through its Forest Restoration Strategy, uses 

prescribed fires as a tool to help reduce the threat of uncharacteristically severe 

wildfires and to increase the resiliency of unhealthy forest ecosystems. 

On 28 September 2009, the Naches Ranger District received approval from the 

Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to ignite an 800-ha prescribed underburn on Bethel Ridge (the “Kaboom” Unit), located about 40 km west 

of Yakima, Washington. The spot weather forecast for the day, obtained from the 

National Weather Service (NWS), predicted winds from the southwest, with surface 

windspeeds of 1 to 2 m/s, increasing to 3 to 4 m/s, gusting to 6 m/s, and transport 

windspeeds of 4 to 6 m/s. Mixing heights were predicted to be 1400 m during 

the day, lowering to 450 m overnight. These predictions indicated a good day for 

dispersion with little chance that smoke would affect the public.

Ignition of the underburn began at approximately 12:30 Pacific Daylight Time 

(PDT ) through a combination of hand and helicopter methods. Initially, the smoke 

plume was observed to travel to the north-northeast (NNE), rising to 600 to 1200 m 

above ground level (AGL), consistent with forecasts. Then, at approximately 16:30, 

the plume was observed at ground level, and smoke impacts were reported throughout upper Yakima County. The air quality monitor in downtown Yakima recorded 
2

RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

elevated hourly average PM2.5 concentrations (particulate matter < 2.5 μm) for 

about 7 hours, from approximately 16:00 to 23:00, with a maximum 1-hour average 

just above 110 μg/m3 reported at 18:00 PDT. The meteorological conditions that 

resulted in the smoke intrusion in Yakima had not been predicted by the standard 

NWS zone forecast, or by the spot weather forecast obtained the morning of 

the burn.

The objective of this case study was to determine whether, with the benefit of 

hindsight, the conditions leading to the drainage of smoke into the Yakima area 

could have been predicted from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) 

meteorological model predictions available to forecasters on the day of the burn, 

and if not, whether higher resolution model output (not available on the day of the 

burn), using the same configuration and parameterizations as the real-time lowresolution simulation, could have predicted the conditions that led to the smoke 

intrusion. In addition, we compared observed surface meteorological data with 

the model output to determine the quality of both the forecast that was provided in 

real time, and the higher-resolution model predictions. The purpose of this study 

was not to determine why the mesoscale models did not accurately capture boundary layer effects or how those models could be improved. Rather, our goal was to 

determine what meteorological conditions led to the smoke intrusion, and if there 

was anything in the operational models run at the time, or afterward (using a higher 

resolution model output that was not available at the time), that could have been 

useful in the decisionmaking process by indicating the possibility of a smoke intrusion event, so as to prevent future similar events.

In addition to evaluating the outputs from the meteorological models, we used 

the high-resolution WRF output to simulate smoke dispersion from the burn using 

the BlueSky Smoke Modeling Framework (BlueSky) (Larkin et al. 2009). BlueSky 

was originally developed as a tool to facilitate prescribed burn activities by providing simulated smoke dispersion impacts for land managers and regulators; however, 

BlueSky is now used nationwide as a smoke prediction tool for both wildfire and 

prescribed fire. BlueSky is not a single model; rather it is a framework that allows 

several different models (meteorological, fuel consumption, emission, plume rise, 

and dispersion) to run seamlessly, in series, to produce predicted surface concentrations of PM2.5 and trajectories aloft. BlueSky is currently run in real time regionally 

and nationally with estimated fire sizes and fuel loadings; however, for this case 

study, we were able to run BlueSky with the actual number of acres (hectares) 

burned and measured fuel loadings.

On the evening of 

September 28, 2009, 

elevated levels of PM2.5

were recorded at the 

particulate monitor in 

downtown Yakima.
3

Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Methods

Meteorological and Air Quality Observations

Meteorological observations were compiled from four nearby surface weather 

stations: two Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center (NWAC) weather stations 

at Chinook Pass and White Pass, one Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) 

site at Sawmill Flats, and the National Weather Service station at Yakima Air 

Terminal, located in Yakima (table 1 and figs. 1 and 2). We used the surface observations (locations shown in figs. 3 and 4) to assess the accuracy of the real-time 

weather forecasts provided by the NWS, and to compare with model output (model 

domain boundaries are shown in fig. 2). The NWS forecast for the area called for a 

cold front to move across the Cascades late in the afternoon of the 28th with breezy 

winds shifting to the southwest and west, and little chance for precipitation (Grant1

). 

The spot weather forecast for Bethel Ridge, obtained by the Forest Service the 

morning of the 28th, called for southwest surface (6-m above ground) winds of 1 to 

2 m/s increasing to 3 to 4 m/s with gusts to 6 m/s. Winds aloft were also predicted 

to be from the southwest at 4 to 6 m/s, with a mixing height of 1370 m (Bailey2

). 

No available local upper air data were available; therefore, we used sounding data 

from the nearest and most representative upper air station in Spokane, Washington, 

approximately 250 km northeast of Yakima.

Table 1—Locations of the burn unit on Bethel Ridge, Cascade Range, 

United States, nearby surface weather stations used in this study, and 

the air quality monitoring site in Yakima, Washington state, United States

Site Latitude Longitude Elevation

 Meters

Bethel Ridge Underburn 46.687° N 121.086° W 1065

Chinook Pass (NWAC) 46.882° N 121.518° W 1900

Sawmill Flats (RAWS) 46.967° N 121.084° W 915

White Pass (NWAC) 46.624° N 121.388° W 1830

Yakima Air Terminal (NWS) 46.567° N 120.533° W 325

Yakima Air Quality Monitor 46.595° N 120.512° W 100

NWAC = Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.

RAWS = Remote Automated Weather Station.

NWS = National Weather Service.

1 Grant, Dave. Personal communication. Smoke and fuels management specialist, 

Washington Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 47037, Olympia, 

Washington 98504-7037.

2 Bailey, Jim. 2009. Documentation for Kaboom underburn. On file with: 

USDA Forest Service Naches Ranger District, 10237 Highway 12, Naches, 

Washington 98937.
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RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

Figure 1—Location of the burn unit (Bethel Ridge), surface meteorological observation stations (Chinook Pass 

Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center [NWAC], White Pass NWAC, Sawmill Flats Remote Automated Weather 

Station, and Yakima Air Terminal), and surface PM2.5 monitors (Naches, Yakima).
5

Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Figure 2—Map of the Pacific Northwest showing the extent of the 4-km (outer box) and the 1.33-km (inner box) Northwest Regional 

Modeling Consortium Weather Research and Forecasting model domains.
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RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

Figure 4—Observed wind direction at Chinook Pass, White Pass, Sawmill Flats, and Yakima, 

before, during, and after the underburn and smoke intrusion. The yellow triangle indicates burn 

ignition time (12:30) and the blue triangle indicates time of first smoke reports in and around Yakima 

(16:30). Typically time series are smoothed lines (windspeed). 

Figure 3—Observed windspeed at Chinook Pass, White Pass, Sawmill Flats, and Yakima, before, 

during, and after the underburn and smoke intrusion. The yellow triangle indicates burn ignition 

time (12:30) and the blue triangle indicates time of first smoke reports in and around Yakima (16:30). 

Typically, time series are smoothed lines (windspeed).
7

Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Meteorological Model Predictions

The Northwest Regional Modeling Consortium (NRMC) based at the University 

of Washington, Seattle, provided model runs for this study from the Advanced 

Research WRF (WRF-ARW) core of the WRF model (Klemp et al. 2007, Michalakes et al. 2001, 2005; Skamarock et al. 2005; Wicker and Skamarock 2002), initialized at 00Z on 28 September 2009 (17:00 PDT on 27 September 2009) at a 4-km 

spatial resolution and hourly temporal resolution. (Although this model prediction 

was nearly 24 hours old by the time of smoke intrusion, the smoke dispersion 

prediction from this 00Z model run would have been the latest available at the 

time of the go/no-go decision.) The 4-km domain encompasses all of Washington 

and Oregon, and parts of the surrounding states. For this analysis, we used the 

Figure 5—A steep drop in visibility (green line) and its corresponding sudden spike in PM2.5

concentration (red line) were recorded at the air quality monitor in Yakima late in the day of 28 

September 2009.

Hourly air quality observations were retrieved from the nephelometer (Radiance Research M903) in downtown Yakima (402 S 4th Avenue; latitude 46.59495, 

longitude 120.51228). Figure 5 shows that elevated PM2.5 concentrations were 

recorded from about 15:00 to 16:00 PDT until about 23:00 PDT on the 28th. 

Visibility dropped dramatically at the same time. The maximum hourly concentration briefly peaked above 110 μg/m3

. National Ambient Air Quality Standards 

(NAAQS) set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect 

human health are based on a 24-hour averaging time. The 24-hour NAAQS for 

PM2.5 is currently 35 μg/m3 and the 24-hour average PM2.5 value measured in 

Yakima on 29 September 2009, was 23.2 μg/m3, meaning there was no exceedence 

of the NAAQS. We also obtained data from the air quality monitor in the town of 

Naches, which is located between the burn unit and Yakima. The PM2.5 concentration never exceeded background levels at that monitor.

Predictions from highresolution regional 

meteorological 

models are often 

used to help with go/

no-go decisions on 

prescribed burns.
8

RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

WRF mesoscale model because the meteorological conditions that resulted in the 

smoke intrusion were on a spatial and temporal scale finer than would be resolved 

by global models such as the Global Forecast System, which provided initial and 

boundary conditions for the WRF model runs. The NRMC WRF model also has 

the advantage of being optimized for the Northwestern United States. These forecast products were available to the public, including weather forecasters and regulators on the morning of the burn. The NRMC also provided us with two WRF model 

runs not available on the day of the prescribed burn—one at 4-km spatial resolution 

with output every 10 minutes (which is the same as the 4-km hourly output with 

additional output every 10 minutes between the hour), and one at 1.33-km spatial 

resolution with output every 10 minutes. The 1.33-km domain is nested within and 

initialized by the 4-km domain. We extracted the winds and planetary boundary 

layer (PBL) heights for the model grid cells corresponding to the locations of the 

underburn, and downtown Yakima, where the air quality monitor that recorded the 

elevated PM2.5 readings is located. All model runs were initiated at 17:00 PDT on 

27 September 2009, with the simulation period lasting 36 hours (1.33-km domain) 

to 72 hours (4-km domain). 

Results

Surface and Upper Air Observations

The time series of windspeed and direction from the surface observation stations 

are shown in figures 6 and 7. The surface wind direction at the three mountain 

stations (Sawmill Flats, Chinook Pass, and White Pass) was generally from the 

east-southeast (ESE) to southeast (SE) (from about 100 to 140 degrees) in the early 

morning hours of September 28. Between about 03:00 and 06:00 the wind direction 

shifted to the northwest (NW) (280 to 320 degrees), which is indicative of a frontal 

passage. The NW winds persisted for the remainder of the day. Figures 3 and 4 also 

show windspeed and direction at Yakima Air Terminal (located on the south side of 

Yakima, approximately 3 to 4 km from the air quality monitor downtown). At this 

location, early morning winds were less than 5 m/s from the west (270 degrees), 

then from about 07:00 PDT to 12:00 generally light and variable (less than or equal 

to 2 m/s and from the north [N] to northeast [NE]). After about 13:00, the winds 

veered to the west-southwest (WSW) (between 200 and 240 degrees) and speeds 

increased to 8 to 10 m/s with higher gusts (not shown in the figure). Windspeed 

decreased to 5 m/s or less after 20:00. The changes in windspeed and direction 

suggest a frontal passage at approximately 13:00, which is later than indicated at the 

mountain stations. There are two possible explanations. First, the mountain stations 

are west of Yakima, so it is reasonable to assume that a front approaching from the 

west would be evident there earlier than at Yakima. Second, because the remote 
9

Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Figure 6—Weather Research Forecasting modeled windspeed at the Bethel Ridge burn location 40 km west 

of Yakima for the 10-minute interval 4- and 1.33-km domains. “I” indicates burn ignition time (12:30); “S” 

indicates time of first smoke reports in and around Yakima (16:30).

Figure 7—Weather Research Forecasting modeled wind direction at the Bethel Ridge burn location 40 

km west of Yakima for the 10-minute interval 4- and 1.33-km domains. “I” indicates burn ignition time 

(12:30); “S” indicates time of first smoke reports in and around Yakima (16:30).
10

RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

sites are located in complex terrain, the winds are likely affected to some degree by 

the surrounding terrain (e.g., upslope/downslope flows, channeling of winds, etc.). 

The weather observation station at the Yakima Air Terminal is on relatively unobstructed flat terrain, and therefore more likely to reflect regional (synoptic) rather 

than local conditions.

WRF Model Predictions

Predicted windspeeds (10 m AGL) were similar (but not identical) in the 10-minute 

output from both the 4- and 1.33-km WRF model runs at the location of the underburn (figs. 6 and 7). Modeled windspeeds were approximately 2 to 4 m/s until 06:00 

on the 28th, when they decreased briefly to less than 1 m/s. Between 07:00 to 11:00, 

speed increased to greater than 6 m/s, with the increase occurring about 2 hours 

earlier in the 4-km model simulation. It is not clear why there is a difference in 

timing of the increased windspeed between the 1.33- and 4-km model simulations. 

After about 13:00, windspeed remained at about 6 m/s in the 4-km simulation, but 

decreased to between 2 and 4 m/s in the 1.33-km simulation. The modeled windspeeds were 2 to 5 m/s higher than the spot weather forecast in the 4-km simulation, but closer to forecast in the 1.33-km simulation. This may be due to the finer 

resolution domain better capturing the rough terrain and its effect on surface winds. 

Wind direction was also similar between the two model resolutions at the underburn location (figs. 6 and 7). Both simulations predicted wind direction from the 

northeast (NE) (50 to 100 degrees) until about 05:00, followed by a gradual clockwise wind shift over 3 to 5 hours to the WSW (about 250 degrees). This predicted 

wind shift occurred about 2 hours later than what was observed in the mountain 

weather stations; however, both simulations agreed reasonably well with the general 

NWS forecast of southwest (SW) to west (W) surface winds.

At Yakima, (figs. 8 and 9), both simulations predicted windspeeds between 

about 1 and 4 m/s overnight prior to the burn, although the time series did not vary 

together (fig. 8). Shortly before 05:00, speed decreased below 1 m/s in the 1.33-km 

domain, with the decrease coming about 2 hours later in the 4-km domain. Both 

then predicted windspeeds increasing between 10:00 and 13:00 to greater than 4 

m/s, with the 1.33-km simulation predicting a higher peak speed at 8 m/s compared 

to a peak of about 5 m/s from the 4-km domain. The 1.33-km simulation agreed 

well with observations, which also indicated windspeeds of about 8 m/s. Although 

the agreement is encouraging, the relatively high windspeeds in Yakima at the time 

of the smoke intrusion confound the scenario of drainage flows carrying smoke into 

Yakima. After 17:00, the 1.33-km speed varied between less than 1 m/s and 4 m/s, 

while the 4-km speed was somewhat higher, varying between 3 and 5 m/s until 

midnight, when speeds decreased to less than 2 m/s. 

The weather forecast 

for a cold front 

passage was verified 

by the observations.
11

Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Figure 8—Weather Research Forecasting modeled windspeed for Yakima, for the 10-minute interval 4- 

and 1.33-km domains. “I” indicates burn ignition time (12:30); “S” indicates time of first smoke reports in 

and around Yakima (16:30).

Figure 9—Weather Research Forecasting modeled wind direction for Yakima, for the 10-minute interval 

4- and 1.33-km domains. “I” indicates burn ignition time (12:30); “S” indicates time of first smoke reports 

in and around Yakima (16:30).
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RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

The 1.33-km simulation wind direction at Yakima (fig. 9) was from the northnorthwest (NNW) (300 to 350 degrees) until about 05:00 PDT on the 28th, gradually 

shifting to south-southeast (SSE) (150 to 180 degrees) until after noon, then veering 

to the south-southwest (SSW) (200 to 230 degrees) until about midnight when it 

became variable, consistent with light windspeed. The 4-km modeled wind direction was from the east-northeast (ENE) until about 7:00 PDT, when it shifted to 

northerly for 2 to 3 hours before switching to SW for the remainder of the day (in 

rough agreement with the observed winds at Yakima Air Terminal, figs. 3 and 4). 

Despite the differences in details between the two model simulations, the broad 

patterns were the same, with a morning wind shift from the N or NE to WSW, and 

an increase in afternoon windspeeds.

The time series of PBL height for both model resolutions at the underburn location and Yakima are shown in figures 10 and 11. The PBL is the layer of the atmosphere that is closest to the ground, and is directly influenced by surface friction 

and surface heating. It is not the mixed layer, nor is the PBL height the same as the 

mixing height, but the two are related, in that the PBL height is less than the mixing 

height, and the higher the PBL, the higher the mixing height. Therefore, one would 

expect better ventilation with a higher PBL height. The Yonsei University PBL 

scheme (Hong et al. 2006) was used for both the 1.33- and 4-km simulations. The 

model-generated PBL height at the underburn location for both resolutions was near 

500 m at the start of the simulation (17:00 on the 27th), then gradually decreased 

to less than 100 m in the early morning hours of the 28th. After about 10:00, both 

markedly increased (fig. 10). The PBL heights were similar until about 17:00, when 

the 4-km simulation PBL height increased while the 1.33-km simulation height 

decreased significantly. 

The predicted PBL heights at Yakima from the 4- and 1.33-km model simulations also showed some differences (fig. 11) between the two model resolutions. 

Heights from both resolutions remained below 500 m from the start of the simulation until about 11:00, when both increased. The 4-km PBL height increased to 

1800 to 2000 m, before decreasing below 500 m after 18:00 to 19:00. The 1.33-km 

PBL height increased only to about 1000 m, and started decreasing earlier than in 

the 4-km simulation. The decrease in the 1.33-km run occurred about the same time 

(just before) smoke was first detected in the Yakima Valley. It stayed below 500 

m for the rest of the night, except for a few short-lived spikes (which may reflect 

issues with the model rather than real-world fluctuations). The Spokane upper air 

soundings from 05:00 and 17:00 on the 29th (not shown) did not show any indication of a surface-based inversion or an inversion layer aloft. Without having nearby 

upper air data, it is not possible to know which simulation of PBL height was closer 
13

Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Figure 10—Weather Research Forecasting modeled planetary boundary layer (PBL) height at the Bethel 

Ridge burn site 40 km west of Yakima, at 10-minute intervals for 4- and 1.33-km spatial resolution. “I” 

indicates burn ignition time (12:30); “S” indicates time of first smoke reports in and around Yakima (16:30).

Figure 11—Weather Research Forecasting modeled planetary boundary layer height at Yakima, at 10-minute intervals for the 4- and 1.33-km resolution. “I” indicates burn ignition time (12:30); “S” indicates time 

of first smoke reports in and around Yakima (16:30).
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RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

Table 2—Fuel loadings used in the BlueSky 

simulation of the Bethel Ridge underburn

1-hour 0.53 tons/acre

10-hour 0.78 tons/acre

100-hour 1.75 tons/acre

1000-hour 2.33 tons/acre

10000-hour 2.54 tons/acre

10000-hour+ 0 tons/acre

Litter 0.3 tons/acre

Grass/herb 0.2 tons/acre

Shrub 1.0 tons/acre

Duff depth 1.2 inches

Table 3—The BlueSky Smoke Modeling Framework configuration used 

for modeling smoke production and transport from the underburn

BlueSky Framework Version 3.1.4

Meteorological model WRF 3.1.1 (1.33 km, 10-minute intervals)

Fuel loadings Measured (see table 2)

Consumption model CONSUME version3

Emissions model FEPS version 2

Dispersion model HYSPLIT version 4.8 (March 2007)

to “reality.” Mesoscale models such as WRF have known biases in temperature, 

winds, and humidity in the PBL, and a finer resolution does not necessarily indicate 

that the biases will be less than in coarser resolution simulations (Hoadley et al. 

2004, Mass et al. 2002). Whether the height of the boundary layer did actually start 

decreasing in the mid-afternoon hours as seen in the 1.33-km simulation, it was not 

predicted by the 4-km model output that was available on the day of the burn.

BlueSky Smoke Concentrations and Trajectories

To obtain predictions of smoke concentrations from the underburn, we ran the 

BlueSky Framework using the 1.33-km WRF model output at 10-minute intervals. 

The fuel loadings used in the simulation (table 2) were obtained from the burn plan 

prepared by the Naches Ranger District. The models used at each step of the Framework are listed in table 3. We used 730 ha as the size of the burn (which was the 

reported estimate of blackened acres [hectares] after the burn), with ignition starting 

at 12:40 and ending at 15:40. Forty hectares were ignited every 10 minutes for a 

total ignition time of 3 hours. Figures 12 through 17 show predicted surface PM2.5

concentration every 2 hours from 13:00 to 23:00 on the 28th. This simulation shows 

all of the surface-based PM2.5 dispersing to the northeast of the burn unit, with no 

measureable PM2.5 reaching Yakima (note the yellowish rectangle in the figures 

over Yakima is an artifact of Google Earth and not PM2.5 from the BlueSky output).

The BlueSky Smoke 

Modeling Framework 

simulates smoke 

dispersion from 

prescribed burns and 

wildfires. Results are 

improved when more 

accurate data (fuels 

and fire information) 

are input to the 

models.
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Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Figure 12—BlueSky predicted ground-level smoke concentrations from the underburn location for 13:00 on 28 September 2009. Times 

are Pacific Daylight Time. NWAC = Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.
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RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

Figure 13—BlueSky predicted ground-level smoke concentrations from the underburn location for 15:00 on 28 September 2009. Times 

are Pacific Daylight Time. NWAC = Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center. 
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Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Figure 14—BlueSky predicted ground-level smoke concentrations from the underburn location for 17:00 on 28 September 2009. Times 

are Pacific Daylight Time. NWAC = Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.
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RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

Figure 15—BlueSky predicted ground-level smoke concentrations from the underburn location for 19:00 on 28 September 2009. Times 

are Pacific Daylight Time. NWAC = Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.
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Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Figure 16—BlueSky predicted ground-level smoke concentrations from the underburn location for 21:00 on 28 September 2009. Times 

are Pacific Daylight Time. NWAC = Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.
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RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

Figure 17—BlueSky predicted ground-level smoke concentrations from the underburn location for 23:00 on 28 September 2009. Times 

are Pacific Daylight Time. NWAC = Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.
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Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

We then ran forward trajectories (using the 1.33-km WRF output and Hysplit 

[Draxler and Hess 1997]) originating from the underburn (figs. 18 and 19). Regardless of the beginning hour for the trajectories, all indicated that smoke from the 

fire would be carried to the ENE, and not affect Yakima. Figure 18 shows forward 

trajectories starting at 13:00 and 15:00 from an elevation of 1000 m (we used 1000 

m because the smoke plume was observed by Forest Service personnel at between 

about 600 m and 1200 m AGL [2,000 to 4,000 feet]). Both cases are very similar 

(indicating no significant change in predicted transport winds during that time 

period) and show the smoke plume dipping below 1000 m before rising again to 

above 1000 m AGL. 

By 16:00 (fig. 19) the trajectory released from 1000 m immediately lowered to 

between 500 m and 1000 m AGL, then got closer to the ground than 500 m (with 

a minimum height of about 300 m AGL), before increasing again to above 500 m. 

This decrease in trajectory heights AGL could reflect the smoke plume being transported over higher terrain rather than the plume descending closer to the ground. 

Nevertheless, the plume was not predicted to reach ground level, or be transported 

over Yakima.

To explore a more conservative scenario where smoke would not be lofted as 

high above the fire as was observed, we generated trajectories starting at 200 m 

AGL (fig. 20). The 13:00 trajectory is shown, but the subsequent hours revealed a 

very similar pattern. Once again, the predicted plume initially dropped below the 

release height (200 m), only to rise again to above 200 m AGL for the duration of 

the simulation. 

Simulated forecast 

trajectories predicted 

smoke lofted above the 

fire would be carried to 

the ENE, and would not 

affect Yakima.
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RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

Figure 18—24-hour trajectories beginning at 13:00 Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) (red dots) and 15:00 PDT (orange 

dots). Trajectories start at 1000 m above ground level (AGL). Green dots represent downwind trajectories (for both 

hours) above 1000 m AGL.
23

Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Figure 19—24-hour trajectories beginning at 16:00 PDT. Trajectories start at 1000 m above ground level (AGL). 

Green dots represent downwind trajectories above 500 m AGL.
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RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

Figure 20—24-hour trajectories beginning at 13:00 PDT. Trajectories start at 200 m above ground level (AGL). 

Green dots represent downwind trajectories above 200 ms AGL.
25

Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

Discussion

On 28 September 2009, air quality monitor data and public reports indicated a significant smoke intrusion in and around Yakima, Washington. On that same day, the 

Naches Ranger District was conducting a large underburn about 40 km to the west. 

The smoke in and around Yakima was believed to be from the underburn. Although 

the NAAQS for PM2.5 was not exceeded during this event, high PM2.5 concentrations persisted for several hours. The NWS spot weather forecast predicted good 

mixing during the day, with S to SW winds to carry the smoke away from Yakima. 

The burn was carried out by Forest Service personnel in accordance with the plan 

they registered with the Washington DNR, which approved the burn based on the 

current weather and forecast information available on the morning of the 28th. For 

the duration of the burn, smoke was indeed lofted and carried to the NE, away from 

the populated areas in and around Yakima. It was only after ignition was completed 

that the smoke plume was observed to veer to the east and affect ground level.

We studied this event to answer two questions. First, could this smoke intrusion 

have been anticipated with the tools available to the decisionmakers on the day of 

the burn, and second, if not, could this event have been predicted with higher resolution meteorological models that became available subsequent to the burn event? 

These higher resolution models are soon expected to be available operationally. We 

analyzed the 4-km hourly WRF output that was available on the day of the burn, 

4-km WRF output at 10-minute intervals, and also 1.33-km WRF output at 10-minute intervals, which was not available to forecasters in real time. We also used the 

1.33-WRF output in BlueSky smoke dispersion and trajectory simulations of the 

underburn. The finer resolution was used because it further resolved the features of 

the terrain and their effect on the wind regime.

Our results indicate model predictions available on the day of the burn would 

not have indicated that smoke from the underburn would affect Yakima late in the 

afternoon and into the evening of 28 September 2009. Winds were forecast to be 

from the SW, and the PBL height near the burn unit was forecast to be about 1000 

m (about 3,300 feet) throughout the afternoon and evening. In fact, at the time of 

the smoke intrusion, observed winds in Yakima were strong (> 8 m/s) and from 

the SW.

Additionally, with the possible exception of the PBL height, we found no 

evidence in the high-resolution WRF model run to indicate that the meteorological 

conditions leading to the smoke intrusion could have been predicted. The winds 

were predicted to be from the SW, and PBL height at the burn unit was predicted 

to remain high throughout the night following the burn in the 4-km simulation, but 

The higher resolution 

meteorological and 

smoke dispersion 

models not available at 

the time of the burn did 

not predict smoke from 

the prescribed burn 

would affect Yakima.
26

RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

decrease overnight in the 1.33-km simulation. The results from BlueSky runs using 

the high-resolution WRF output reinforced the prediction that smoke (PM2.5) from 

the burn would be transported to the NE of the burn unit, not ESE toward Yakima. 

Trajectories showed the upper air transport flow was also from the SW, in agreement with NWS forecasts. 

The PBL height at Yakima was predicted to decrease earlier in the 1.33-km 

simulation than in the 4-km simulation. This is the only indication that the higher 

resolution model might have suggested the possibility of smoke getting trapped 

close to the ground on the night following the burn. The 4-km simulation kept 

the PBL height high at the burn unit compared to the 1.33-km simulation, and at 

Yakima, the 1.33-km PBL height decreased hours earlier than that in the 4-km 

simulation. Because there is no upper air data from the day of the burn in Yakima 

or near the burn site, we cannot know which simulation more accurately represented the PBL heights. Predicted conditions in the boundary layer (including the 

PBL height) depend on which boundary layer parameterization scheme and initial 

conditions are used in the model, so it is possible that neither model run accurately 

represented actual PBL heights in the hours following the burn. This model configuration was used for this study because it is used for the NRMC operational runs, 

and is what is currently available to forecasters and regulators for their decisionmaking process. Nevertheless, land managers and regulators typically do not use 

PBL heights (or other variables) from individual grid cells in the model domain for 

prescribed burn planning, so a close scrutiny such as was undertaken here would 

not have been done prior to the burn. In addition, models do not always adequately 

characterize conditions in the boundary layer, which is important for accurately 

predicting vertical mixing of smoke and other pollutants (Hu et al. 2010). 

Despite this study, it remains unclear what meteorological conditions resulted 

in smoke transport from the underburn to Yakima. One possible explanation is that, 

as daytime heating waned, stability increased and terrain-induced downslope flow 

increasingly dominated the synoptic-scale southwesterly flow, such that the smoke 

that had been advected to the northeast of the burn unit settled into the lower elevation areas in and around Yakima. The strong SW winds recorded in Yakima late 

in the afternoon do not support this. Another possibility is that downward flow set 

up as a thermal or lee-side trough moved east of the Cascade Range. Observational 

data are unavailable to verify or dispute this possible scenario. On the scale of 1.33- 

and 4-km the model simulations do not show smoke advecting into Yakima. To 

better predict smoke dispersion from burns in this area, knowledge of the specific 

local drainage flows, and timing of the shift from synoptic flows to drainage flows, 

is required. Collecting additional observational data of both smoke and meteoro-
27

Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

logical variables would increase this local knowledge and help to better anticipate 

smoke-dispersion patterns from complex burns. 

Conclusions

We carried out a detailed meteorological and smoke dispersion analysis of a smoke 

intrusion event in Yakima, Washington, that occurred after an 800-ha prescribed 

burn 40 km to the west, on the Naches Ranger District. We found that the smoke 

intrusion could not have been easily predicted using the forecasts and models 

available on the day of the burn, nor could it have been foreseen from enhanced, 

higher-resolution meteorological models that were not widely available at the 

time. In fact, after doing a careful “hindsight” analysis, we found that there is not 

adequate observational data (surface or upper air) to definitively explain exactly 

what occurred meteorologically on 28 September 2009 that caused the high PM2.5

concentrations at the monitoring site in Yakima. The 1.33- and 4-km meteorological modeled wind data are similar and while their boundary layer predictions vary, 

neither explains the occurrence of smoke at the ground in Yakima.

As computing capability increases with faster, more cost-effective computers, 

weather forecasts are also improving. We now have available higher-resolution forecasts than were available just a few years ago, and the quality of those forecasts is 

also improving. Nevertheless, there are limitations in the models, and the forecasts 

are not always accurate. It is hoped that in the not-too-distant future, meteorological 

models will improve to the point where the event that caused the smoke intrusion 

can be predicted. 
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RESEARCH PAPER PNW-RP-597

Acknowledgments

We thank David Ovens and Cliff Mass of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences 

at the University of Washington for providing all the WRF model output. Mark 

Moore of the NWAC and the AirFire Team provided surface weather data from 

White Pass and Chinook Pass. Tim Brown of the Desert Research Institute, Reno, 

Nevada, provided surface weather data from Yakima Air Terminal. Janice Peterson, 

Air Quality Specialist for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, provided 

documentation for the burn and subsequent intrusion, as well as weather data 

from Sawmill Flats RAWS and air quality data from Yakima. Dave Grant of the 

Washington DNR provided additional documentation of the weather forecast, and 

regulatory decisionmaking process from the day of the burn. We thank Tara Strand 

and Mark Moore for assistance with the manuscript. This investigation was supported with funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service National 

Fire Plan, the State Office/Regional Offices of the Bureau of Land Management and 

National Forest System, and the Joint Fire Science Program Smoke and Emissions 

Model Intercomparison Project (SEMIP, #08-1-7-10). Financial support for the work 

done at University of Washington was primarily through the American Recovery 

and Reinvestment Act. 

English Equivalents

When you know: Multiply by: To find:

Meters (m) 3.28 Feet

Kilometers (km) 0.6215 Miles

Hectares (ha) 2.47 Acres
29

Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for the Yakima Smoke Intrusion Case Study, 28 September 2009

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