Thursday, August 16, 2018

Breathe a Little Fresh Air... Please!

A lot of Western Washington saw the smoke clear out last night and through this morning.  The air quality is in the Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range in most western locations and it should clear up even more through today.

PM2.5 Across Washington (8 - 9 am; Thursday)

This westerly flow that we are experiencing should also bring some momentary relief Friday evening for residents in counties like Kittitas, Grant, Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla.  Neighboring counties may also see a bit of clearing.  Air quality in central and eastern Washington will vary, but with the nearby fires, residents in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties should expect continued smoky conditions through the weekend.

Unfortunately, these winds also mean there is a potential for fire growth...


And, now for the really bad news, the forecast for Sunday night is for winds from the north which could add more smoke from Canada into the region.

17 comments:

  1. Will these winds on Sunday result in conditions as bad as yesterday?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A gradual deterioration can be expected through Tuesday, depending on location

      Delete
  2. Is it too early to predict how the smoke situation will be next weekend? I am wondering if the winds from Sunday will make the rest of the week look bad?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, too early unfortunately. Too many unknown variables to juggle with

      Delete
  3. Can you tell me if much smoke is expected in Victoria BC Sunday-Tuesday? I can’t find any info and wondering about canceling trip. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Long range weather models suggest Victoria will be downwind of some of the BC fires Sunday- Monday, but winds will be reasonably strong through the islands. So not smoke free but probably not terrible. Trip plans are a personal decision. You might want to be more cautious if you have sensitive individuals in your group and plan to spend a lot of time outdoors. Please see some of the health- protection measures you can take, explained on this website.

      Delete
  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for helpful information! Could you tell me if there is any indication what the air quality might be like in the North Cascades (by Marblemount, WA) next weekend (8/24-8/25)?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Too early to be certain, but with several fires just north and east of there (see map above), it wont take much for some smoke to drain into nearby valleys. No signs of wetting rains. Fire growth and new fire starts are a distinct possibility the next few days.

      Delete
  6. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My wife and I just arrived in Spokane for the weekend. She is 7mpnths pregnant. Any advice? Do and do nots?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Assuming you mean wildfire smoke related advice: first, there will be a temporary improvement in smoke levels between later today & Sunday midday. Reduce your exposure to smoke by maximizing your time indoors, wear N95 or N100 masks if necessary. See more health resources at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/p/federal.html

      Delete
  8. Please tell me what to expect in the Aberdeen area next week?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Poor air will be widespread across western WA, including Aberdeen from Sunday evening- Wednesday morning, after which some good clearing can be expected for a few days at least

      Delete
  9. What will the conditions be like in and around Davenport and it's neighboring communities throughout the weekend?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Expect some clearing (read Moderate air) today & Saturday but things will likely head south on Sunday... almost literally as BC smoke will head southward.

      Delete
  10. Why all these fires for only the past few years? Could someone be starting some of them on purpose?

    ReplyDelete

We monitor this site during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8AM to 5PM. We encourage your questions, comments, and feedback. We ask that everyone be respectful of the opinions of others, and avoid comments that are defamatory, inappropriate or off-topic. If you have an emergency, please call 911.

We moderate all comments to prevent spam. Your comment will publish upon review