First Moorland fires triggered by prolonged dry spell

[The PIT]

Here we go and fanned on by strong winds not looking good.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yo...ire/7420576.stm

IF they don't get it under control it looks like some homes are going up.

[James M]

Oh dear , I remember a few years back when there was some on Saddleworth moor, I hope they get them under control soon.

[PersianPaladin]

Dry weather just helps the flames to spread more than it normally would.

Edited May 26, 2008 by grab my graupels

[Scorcher]

I noticed the smoke and the smell when I was in the Manchester area earlier. Also there appeared to be smoke on the hills further north in Lancashire as I travelled north on the M6. Not really a surprise to be honest, the ground was already bone dry and now after days of this extremely strong wind it must be even drier.

[SP1986]

It became rather hazy here too, I wondered why because the air quality is fairly decent, that explains it!

[La Bise]

There was a puzzling mention on the NOAA site for Manchester Airport mentionning "smoke" as the weather conditions during an hour yesterday, now I understand. I was walking next to the Trough of Bowland yesterday and it was bone dry up there, you could walk on the bog terrain without any problems, in fact you could have done the walk in white trainers and come back with them fairly clean...

[James M]

Hopefully this rain forecast for later tonight will sort things out, I hope it won't fizzle out like the last two.

[Cookie]

I'm not surprised been very dry lately

[Weather-history]

I could see the smoke plume from here yesterday

[Spurry]

There was a puzzling mention on the NOAA site for Manchester Airport mentionning "smoke" as the weather conditions during an hour yesterday, now I understand. I was walking next to the Trough of Bowland yesterday and it was bone dry up there, you could walk on the bog terrain without any problems, in fact you could have done the walk in white trainers and come back with them fairly clean...

Yes i saw that , it had me baffled , there was also a smokey smell in the air here in Wigan yesterday , it was only when i watched the local news last night that i realised it must have drifted across from the moors..Hopefully the rain has helped to put it out

[Gray-Wolf]

I dropped Luke at respite yesterday (Didsbury) and so drove by the fire up along Blackstone edge. The road was closed by the time we returned from M/cr.

From the top of Blackstone you could see the extent of the plume which went out to Bolton and across to M/cr city centre.

I hadn't seen such a big Moor fire in all my years of living up here, the fire front at 2pm must have been over 2 miles wide and the visibility by the fire was 0.

I drove back through M/cr and picked up the M62 at Swinton and it was smoke hazed all the way. By the time we reached Rochdale we could see the pall from the second fire over Huddersfield's way. Pretty stunning all in all.

[johnholmes]

let us just hope that the rain today and that predicted for tomorrow, that looks heavier and more thundery for that area, does the main job of putting the worst out. No doubt the fire service will have to be around for several days to keep a check on it.

Edited May 27, 2008 by johnholmes

[Weather-history]

I remember the moor fires of Good Friday 2003. The smoke and the haze here was appreciable carried on by the wind. I remember seeing a satellite image and you could see the smoke plumes coming of the Pennines.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/2960715.stm

[Nick H]

There was a puzzling mention on the NOAA site for Manchester Airport mentionning "smoke" as the weather conditions during an hour yesterday, now I understand.

Smoke has a specific meteorological defintion, normally when an inversion occurs. More than likely this was being referred to, and not the emissions from the moor.

[The PIT]

Heres the latest

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yo...ire/7422276.stm

Overnight rain didn't put it all out but perhaps the next batch will. Sounds like it was someone being careless.

[johnholmes]

Smoke has a specific meteorological defintion, normally when an inversion occurs. More than likely this was being referred to, and not the emissions from the moor.

it would be smoke that was, in the observers view, was causing a reduction in the visibility, and yes smoke at low level is often under an inversion, which is quite possible yesterday in the Manchester area.

[disco-barry]

No smoke here, i live 5mins from there.....Blow it all over to the wrong side

[Gray-Wolf]

I could see the pall of smoke from Didsbury (as I dropped Luke off at Francic House) which is pretty close to M/cr Airport and due to the easterly the planes were all approaching to land through the 'smoke'.

No smoke here, i live 5mins from there.....Blow it all over to the wrong side

I tell you you were lucky!!, I pitied the poor folk in Littleborough yesterday.

[The PIT]

Well luckily the weather broke before major serious damage happened if it stayed dry and windy one shudders at what could have happened. Pity they won't catch the person as he/she want slow roasting over a barbie so they won't so carless next time.

[disco-barry]

I could see the pall of smoke from Didsbury (as I dropped Luke off at Francic House) which is pretty close to M/cr Airport and due to the easterly the planes were all approaching to land through the 'smoke'.

I tell you you were lucky!!, I pitied the poor folk in Littleborough yesterday.

Amazing mind as i walked up to about 450m yesterday but i couldn't see North-West...Yorkshire looked great though.