wind has shifted to the south, just a light breeze, but enough to drag smoke up the inlet into town. Smells.

Alberniweather
37°C
28% RH
SW 8kph

#bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

1:30PM Update - 1400 hectares now.

Air quality worsening.
Extremely hot in the Valley.
Wind light and variable. Dragging smoke into harbour.

Stay safe out there, continue making preparations as best you can.

Fire is still burning at Rank 4 and 5.
https://www.alberniweather.ca/underwoodfire/

#bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

To see conditions over the past day, go to the Almanac
https://www.alberniweather.ca/almanac-view/
or Neo VIew
https://www.alberniweather.ca/neo-view/

One graph I am watching there is the Wind Direction. You can see that from just after noon yesterday to nightfall, it is steadily from the NE (15ºC).

The Vector graph shows the predominant direction in the past day.

However, since sundown yesterday, winds have been light and much more variable.

#bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

2PM Update

9.2km from town (about 200m closer)
Wind seems to be predominantly W or SW at the moment.

https://www.alberniweather.ca/underwoodfire/

#bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

Squadron of 4 Fireboss skimmers now actioning the fire.

Looks like they are taking water from the Alberni Inlet.

It is not lost on ANYONE in Port Alberni that we are one day after the August 11 2024 anniversary of the Hawaii Mars water bomber being officially flown to a museum. The Phillipine Mars was sent to Arizona a few months later.

Sigh…

https://www.flightradar24.com/49.13,-124.85/10

#bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

Environment Canada has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Inland Vancouver Island including Port Alberni. May also impact Lake Cowichan, Tofino, Ucluelet, Bamfield, Nitinat.

(Ironically, the wind has turned around again and is a steady breeze about 8kph from the NE. Air quality has improved in the City for now.

https://aqwarnings.gov.bc.ca/warnings/2025-08-12_wildfire_smoke_issue.html

#bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

Alberniweather has reached its high for the day. We got to 38.6ºC at 2:14PM. The wind has brought that down to 35.4ºC currently.

Wind is currently from the NNE at 13kph, pushing the fire away from the City thankfully but it is likely growing very fast.

Expect to be surprised by the size of the new area number when BCWF updates later this evening.

Hopefully crews have been successful protecting any structures.
#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire
#bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

Time to mask up outside. Smoke and ash in the air.

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

New size update 1,447hectares.

https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents?fireYear=2025&incidentNumber=V71498&source=map

I am out of the house right now but I will post a weather forecast update after 9PM tonight.

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

New evacuation alert for south Port Alberni Cameron Heights and the adjacent Tseshaht reserve.

go to ACRD page and Voyent App for details!

https://www.acrd.bc.ca/mount-underwood-wildfire

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

hi.

i guess i am on the yourube cam now. setting the sprinkler.

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

New update 9:50PM - New Weather Forecast - New Evac Alert

Wind looks variable Wedneday morning.
Still hot 30ºC.
Wind could strengthen to southerly Alberni Inlet winds in Afternoon.
Wind overnight Wednesday remains southerly.

Thursday morning could be windy. Temperatures cooler 23ºC. Rain does not reach us until 8AM

https://www.alberniweather.ca/underwoodfire/

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

I've adjusted the webcam for the night time. Looks like Mordor :(

Youtube: https://youtube.com/alberniweather

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

The fire has come about 1KM closer to the edge of town today.

(Thus the Evacuation Alert)

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

Friday morning looks like significant rain directly on the fire area. Fingers crossed!

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

8AM Weather Update. Today is the changeover day. Weather will be impactful in good (cooler) and bad (wind) ways.

The fire itself could also impact the weather if the smoke keeps temperatures lower and ‘turns off' the Inlet breeze.

Important day. Stay vigilant. Watch ACRD Voyent and Web for new Alerts/Orders. Make preparations.

https://www.alberniweather.ca/underwoodfire/

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

the bad news: The sun looks like this right now thanks to the massive smoke. Air quality is not good. Smells like charcoal

the good news: If this smoke remains over us all day, it will keep the temperature down and *might* lessen or even turn off the Inlet breeze.

Impossible to predict. It is in the hands of the weather gods at this point.

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

Two sides of the smoke.

Ash is falling. There is a light southerly breeze.

(normal lens and 0.5x wide to capture the sun disc)

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

I was hoping that the smoke might have limited the temperature and the Alberni Inlet breeze.

Well, the temperature doesn't much matter now. The breeze is here.
SouthEast.

Potentially pushing the fire toward the town.

I have not heard any updates on the fire itself.

Take care out there people. Stay alert, watch your phones for updates.

Be Prepared.

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

Quick 12:30PM Update

https://www.alberniweather.ca/underwoodfire/

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

Things are about to get weird.

The Alberni Inlet breeze is in full swing. This is a serious concen for the fire. It remains hot and dry.

However: We are now expecting 50-100mm of rain on the West Coast of Vancouver Island starting Thursday night to Friday night. (This could cause things like landslides in newly-fire impacted hillsides)

What is going on….

https://www.alberniweather.ca/underwoodfire/

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

can't see the mountain. The Alberni Inlet Breeze is clearing the City of the smoke but it is also pushing it all around the Valley like a bowl.

The air is worse on the north and west side of the valley as the smoke gets trapped by the hillside.

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

If you're not from Port Alberni, you might be asking yourself:

What is this "Alberni Inlet Breeze” he is talking about.

Well... it's a typical (i assume anyway) "inflow" breeze that develops as the heat of the Inland valley rises and draws cool air in and up the 60km Inlet from the Pacific ocean.

It results in this:

https://youtube.com/shorts/S6IJ0390B9w?feature=share

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

If you zoom in to just to the left of the tall tree behind my neighbor's house, you can see the helicopter with a water bucket. It seems tiny compared to the huge column of smoke

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

No update on fire size but BCWF has updated their page.

https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents?fireYear=2025&incidentNumber=V71498&source=map

They are working on lines to protect the City of Port Alberni, China Creek and other areas on the West and North side of the fire.

They do mention the rain on Thursday/Friday with the caveat: "Significant rainfall will be required to have a meaningful impact.”

There have been no changes to the evacuation alert or orders.

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

It's weird when you have both a measurable windchill, and heat index.

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

9PM Update - Not a lot of new Information - Weather forecast remains. Unless something major is released, I will not have an update until Thursday morning.

Take care out there.
https://www.alberniweather.ca/underwoodfire/

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

11:30PM Update - New Weather Forecast - Rain total remains the same but start is pushed back to 11PM

https://www.alberniweather.ca/underwoodfire/

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

Still no update from BCWF on the extent of fire growth yesterday.

The southerly winds have already begun this morning. 10kph gusting to 20. EC is forecasting strong winds again at noon gusting 40kph.

(Top gust at Alberniweather yesterday was 43kph)

Smoke hangs over the city but the air is better closer to the Inlet than it is in the deeper Valley.

I’ll post a new blog update once BCWF updates their size/map.

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

12PM August 14 Update:
BCWF has updated the perimeter. The fire moved about 2.7km closer to the community yesterday. They are working on defense lines and fire breaks.

It is now 5.7km from the edge of the City.

It is 3406 hectares (34 square kilometres). It grew by 1000 hectares yesterday.

https://www.alberniweather.ca/underwoodfire/

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

There is a weird irony happening. In the City, the Air Quality hasn't been bad because of the persistent southerly inlet wind funneling into the harbour and blowing the smoke away

That same wind is moving the fire toward the city. We are watching the helicopters work (there is one in the pic).

At the same time people on the east side of the Island are breathing in horrible smoke.

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

There is the *slightest* bit of drizzle in the air! I mean like, a few drops carried on the wind! But at least an encouraging sign!

☔️

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

A nice shower is falling. Ahead if schedule!

It looks and feels good, but the view in a certain direction is not great.

No one is complaining about the rain today!! ☔️ 🌧️

It should be on and off for the next few hours and then the main bands of rain will come in around 8PM
#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

A Coulson helicopter flies overhead with a snorkel dangling from the bottom. First time I've seen one of those

A reminder that the fire is still very much ongoing
#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni

The shower has mostly stopped. The air is still clear in the city, but the rain took away the wind and it feels like the wall of smoke is about to fall down onto us.

at least we don't have to look at the towering clouds of doom now. :-)

#PortAlberni #UnderwoodFire #BCWildfire #bcwildfire #underwoodFire #portalberni