BORTAS B (2011)
BORTAS Meteorological and Air Quality Forecast for Halifax region (Boundary
Layer and Free Troposphere)
Issued: Tuesday, Aug 23, 2011
Issued by: David Waugh
AM/PM: AM
Valid Today, Tonight and Wednesday with an outlook for Thursday
Quick overview: Low to moderate boreal biomass CO through Thurs. No sig
LRT aerosols through Wednesday with increasing potential on Thurs.
Synopsis/Synoptic Discussion:
NRCan website shows fire N of Medicine Hat AB and one in SW MB. Numerous fires
in Nrn Wyoming and Idaho – also fires in OK TX and one in most other of the Wrn US
states west of the Rockies. HMS shows smoke plume from Wyoming Idaho fires
covering the Dakotas, swrn MB and eastern Montana and WY.
At 500 hPa trough from Nrn Quebec to off Cape Cod rotating E to lie off cst of NF and
LAB Wed eve. Flow bcms NW behind trof then Wly across Canada and nrn tier US.
Second trof will dig toward wrn QC early Thurs. Potential transport of smoke from
Wyoming area later Wednesday.
At surface a trough currently along 60W with NWly flow ovr region as ridge builds into
Maritimes. Ridge will lie offshore over Gulf Stream Wednesday eve as low movs
toward James Bay allowing flow to become moderate SWly over Maritimes.
GEOS-5 output based on 23nd 00Z run has moderate boreal biomass CO below 6 km
today and tonight becoming low to moderate below 4 km Wednesday and below 3
Thurs.
GEM-MACH shows no sig LRT of anthropogenic aerosols through Wed. Increasing
potential on Thurs.
Lightning – potential remains well offshore today and Wednesday.
Today:
Sunny. Moderate Boreal biomass CO below 6 km. No sig LRT aerosols.
Tonight:
Clear. Moderate Boreal biomass CO below 6 km. No sig LRT aerosols.
Wednesday:
Mainly sunny. Low to Moderate Boreal biomass CO below 4 km. No sig LRT
aerosols.
Outlook for Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud with chance of a shower. Low to
Moderate Boreal biomass CO below 3 km. No sig LRT aerosols.
Contact: David Waugh
Contact number: 426-9136 / 292-2972