This is the latest AFCEMA post on the events log regarding the Biolab incident.
They are working to remove the product. They have 40,000-gallon tanks they are using to neutralize the product. They fill the tank up with water, sodium bicarbonate and soda ash. They then add product, and a chemical reaction takes place. Once this happens, they can remove it from the site as inert substance meaning the product is essentially neutralized.
There will be an inversion tonight, and Atlanta will see haze. This means the air near the earth’s surface does not mix with the higher air, causing pollutants to build up. Unfortunately, this will keep the smolder from dispersing into the higher atmosphere at this time.
Below are the most recent forecast highlights.
IMPORTANT FORECAST NOTES:
- Winds: Surface winds will be light (less than 5 mph) and northeasterly to easterly (in other words, blowing toward the southwest or west) from 8 PM tonight through 10 AM tomorrow (Thursday). Periods of variable wind direction or calm winds (around 0 mph) are possible. From 10 Am through the remainder of the daylight hours of Thursday, surface winds will be east-southeasterly (blowing toward the west-northwest) at 6-8 mph. Occasional gusts of 10-14 mph are possible.
- Weather: The combination of the smoke plume and high humidity may result in patchy dense fog starting as early as 10 PM tonight, but most likely occurring between 3 AM and 9 AM.
- Plume Height/Dispersion: An inversion (a stable layer of air near the ground that does not allow vertical mixing) will keep any smoke trapped below 400 feet through at least 9 AM tomorrow. As daytime heating begins and temperatures rise, mixing heights (and possibly the plume height) will peak around 4500 feet by 2 PM tomorrow.