Air Quality Forecast: 8-18-15 to 8-20-15

Smoke on the Eastside

All areas of Washington east of the Cascades can expect smoky air quality.  Many areas may deteriorate to unhealthy or hazardous levels.

Areas immediately downwind of wildfire plumes will experience the greatest smoke impacts.  All other areas will continue to have impaired visibility and elevated levels of smoke particulate.

How this affects our communities:

·         Major population centers, like Spokane and Wenatchee/East Wenatchee, will have continued smoke as these communities are downwind of significant fires.

·         Other communities like Yakima, Tri-Cities, Wall Walla, will have more generalized haze and may clear out as winds come up.

·         Nearly all river valleys will have higher smoke levels in the evening through early morning hours.

Beginning Wednesday evening to Thursday, August 20th, northwest winds are expected to begin clearing out the smoke from some areas.