Glowing Red & Ashes Falling: The National Weather Service Explains the Region’s Apocalyptic Skies

Willits in the smoke yesterday. [Photo by Natalie Sadler]

Willits in the smoke yesterday. [Photo by Natalie Sadler]

Mendocino and Humboldt County residents have gazed upward over the last 24 hours as their sky has taken on the appearance of the apocalypse glowing with hues of red, orange, and yellow. We spoke to National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Tonkin about the atmospheric factors that have converged to create this phenomenon.

First, Tonkin emphasized the sheer magnitude of fire activity currently occurring in the region, including the August Complex, Red Salmon Complex, Willits’s Oak Fire, and fires in Southern Oregon.

Tonkin explained that the smoke output of these fires dramatically increased over the last 48 hours as temperatures peaked, relative humidity decreased, and the wind speeds picked up.

This increase in smoke output and shift in winds coming from the Northeast has created the perfect conditions for the Mendocino and Humboldt skies to be inundated with wildfire smoke, Tonkin said.

Tonkin did recognize that the fires emitting the smoke now blanketing the region have been burning for many weeks. He said it was the directional shift of those winds that led to the smoke dispersing over Humboldt and Mendocino Counties.

Tonkin reassured the community that though the region has gone through a rough couple days with smoke, heat, low humidity, the forecast calls for relative humidity improvement, lower temperatures, and a shift in the wind blowing westward.

The National Weather Service encourages all residents to stay indoors because “[w]ildfire smoke can harm you in multiple ways. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.”

Air Quality Map of the Mendocino County and Humboldt County regions

Air Quality Map of the Mendocino County and Humboldt County regions. [Photo from NWS]

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

40 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Aragorn
Guest
Aragorn
3 years ago

A very storm of Mordor. Well, the vile plumes will continue as the orcs march towards the White house lead by their evil chieftain, Kamala.

Denise Vanselow
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Aragorn

Kamala is not in the WH

Technophobe
Guest
Technophobe
3 years ago
Reply to  Aragorn

WTF is wrong with you? People are losing their homes and many more of us are suffocating in this smoke. And there you are, injecting mindless politics into the mix.

I hope Biden whips Trumps ass. Then maybe people like you will shut the fuck up.

CJ
Guest
CJ
3 years ago
Reply to  Technophobe

Thank you. I agree

Todd Cray
Guest
Todd Cray
3 years ago
Reply to  Technophobe

And what is wrong with YOU? You criticize someone else for “injecting mindless politics into the mix” and then turn around and do the same, except in language exhibiting a whole lot less “mind” than the original commenter.

At least you are rightfully expecting that if our President were to lose to Biden his supporters would have enough class to leave well enough alone. Unlike the sore Hillary losers who are still moaning about a four-year old election!

FBnative
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Technophobe

As you add a political barb in closing. Isn’t that what you wrote in about?

JustWantToHeartheEndoftheStory
Guest
JustWantToHeartheEndoftheStory
3 years ago
Reply to  Aragorn

I usually hate political commentary on local stories, but that was amusing. (And accurate)

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Aragorn

Oh give me a break! We have the orange grifter megalomaniac in the white house and you want to diss on Kamala? You are a faux news watcher if I ever heard one. The facts are Fox news watchers are less informed about reality than people who watch no news at all.

Black Rifles Matter
Guest
Black Rifles Matter
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

What about Kamala coming from slave owner ancestry???

Industrial Disease
Guest
3 years ago

You do know that most slave owners were also rapists, do you not?

Black Rifles Matter
Guest
Black Rifles Matter
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

What about camel lady saying she’s proud of Jacob Blake? Was that touching or what? I mean, it really moved me…. how about you guys.

Todd Cray
Guest
Todd Cray
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

But the name-callers and stereotypers like you, those are the smart and informed ones?

BonnieBlue
Guest
BonnieBlue
3 years ago
Reply to  Aragorn

Thanks for telling us that Kamala (the Goddess) and Joe (the White Knight) will win office and save the U.S.A. Hooray!

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
3 years ago
Reply to  BonnieBlue

They couldn’t save anyone. All they use is their mouths.

dgale
Guest
dgale
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Are you seriously making this claim given who is currently in the White House? He is nothing but mouth and not a word of it is truthful or anything but self-serving. But go ahead and keep drinking his Kool-Aid – he and his ilk are playing you and your ilk like foolish puppets.

The Big Liebowski
Guest
The Big Liebowski
3 years ago
Reply to  dgale

The lesser of two Evils comes to mind.

The left’s support of controlled and paid Anarchy on the streets is the line in the sand.

The technocrats are going to put us all on an extended lockdown for our safety.

We are witnessing a cultural revolution right before our eyes.

This is absolutely being war gamed by the billionaires and their minions.

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
3 years ago

Exactly!

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

Will wearing a face mask help? https://www.healthline.com/health-news/can-masks-really-protect-from-wildfire-smoke#1

Surgical masks- no. N95- yes with caveats.

Thalassa
Guest
Thalassa
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

You can wear cloth masks with filters. That’s why Chinese people wear them in Beijing: air pollution.

Ice
Guest
Ice
3 years ago
Reply to  Thalassa

Wildland fire smoke is different. Masks can break particles smaller, lodging in your lungs deeper. This is why Wildland firefighters don’t wear masks on the fireline. The USFS has had doctors study this for years. The masks that can filter out the particles, are too hot and heavy and can cause heat exaustion. Whoever invents a lightweight Wildland smoke mask that blocks particles will be a millionaire.

Notty Bumbo
Guest
Notty Bumbo
3 years ago

The combination of the smoke and the Coastal fog here in the Fort Bragg area has caused a significant temperature drop – first time all year I need a sweater. And the orange light is making the seasonal redwood leaf die-off make the trees look half-dead. Very disturbing.

Obliviously
Guest
Obliviously
3 years ago
Reply to  Notty Bumbo

It’s chilly in Willow Creek this morning too.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Notty Bumbo

On the other hand, the red filter of smoke made all the greens look black but made the apples on trees stand out. I have a bumper crop!

Raven
Guest
Raven
3 years ago

Staying inside seems to help. At least it doesn’t smell like a campfire

Brent Peeck
Guest
3 years ago

The eye of Sauron sees all in the land or Mordor.

Black Rifles Matter
Guest
Black Rifles Matter
3 years ago
Reply to  Brent Peeck

Q army rise up

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

Oh give me a break! We have the orange grifter megalomaniac in the white house and you want to diss on Kamala? You are a faux news watcher if I ever heard one. The facts are Fox news watchers are less informed about reality than people who watch no news at all.

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Did Orange man do this too?

valley residents receiving debit cards, letters with wrong name as EDD investigates payment fraud

Tell me there won’t be mail in voter fraud.

Over 9 million people in California have filed unemployment claims during the pandemic.

Many have complained about how long it has taken the EDD to process their claim.

But now, a growing number of people in the Valley and around the state have received letters – even debit cards – with the wrong names on them.

https://abc30.com/edd-payment-fraud-investigate-investigation/6402850/

Nope not Fox news.

Missing your checks? Well they even went to Florida along with your social security numbers. And… Gavin just signed for more $300.00 checks to go out.

Tired
Guest
Tired
3 years ago

I don’t know how much clearer God can be in telling us to stay indoors, social distance, and wear a mask when outdoors.

Black Rifles Matter
Guest
Black Rifles Matter
3 years ago
Reply to  Tired

Hahahahaha. Wow. Like God did this….smh
And I am religious person to boot to.

BonnieBlue
Guest
BonnieBlue
3 years ago
Reply to  Tired

God talking? More like human-caused climate catastrophe made visible.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  BonnieBlue

“The earliest wildfire smouldered approximately 419 million years ago during the Silurian period, when oxygen levels may have been higher than today’s. ” https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-wildfire/

Antichrist
Guest
Antichrist
3 years ago
Reply to  BonnieBlue

Funny how with covid green house gases have fallen by roughly 20percent globally this year yet we have these fires and they are saying it still isn’t enough. Well I gotta tell you with the rate of population increase cutting green house emissions by even 50 percent won’t save anyone. So that means population control . Set a age limit for health care set birth limits and of course stop drinking almond milk as it takes roughly 3 gallons of water to produce one almond

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Tired

Staying indoors is NOT a recommendation for avoiding covid-19 by anyone. Social distancing is harder inside. Wearing a face mask- maybe but there is no benefit in that if you are staying inside by yourself anyway.

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
3 years ago
Reply to  Tired

Bonnie Blue.

I’m not religious, but I am a believer.

Actually God said if you denied him there would be plagues, pestilence, earthquakes, famine and more.

But if you repent ( honestly see the errors of you ways and change your mind and heart) he will forgive and restore your nation.

Now He’s showing us, but it’s not to late.

Not many left that humble…. even though every one has sinned. Everyone!

In the mist of fire is a good time to call on him…try it you just might like it.

The demons seethe when you say these things… cause deep down they know it’s true.

MESSENGER
Guest
MESSENGER
3 years ago

Repent ye heathen Kali-Kommunists while there is still time!!!

& cloth face coverings only work against covid…

shivani
Guest
shivani
3 years ago

y dont they drop some chemy chem trails on us an make it rain💸💸💸

charliedk
Guest
3 years ago

I live in Willits and what seems to be 4pm is 12am..no sun or no light..at least PD&E is keeping the power on..

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ice princess
Guest
3 years ago

All a bunch of lames lames. Smh