MODIS Image from Sunday afternoon with fire locations shown in red.
Residents in the northern parts of Central and Eastern Washington are experiencing severe smoky conditions due to both local and regional wildfires that are currently burning. Monitors are showing Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy air quality from Wenatchee to Spokane, with no clearing expected in the near-term forecast. Light winds from the north are expected to continue throughout the day, which means residents in Yakima, Benton, and Franklin counties could see conditions worsen to Moderate to Unhealthy. Southeastern Washington may not get too bad, but it won't be surprising if we see Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups air quality in Walla Walla, Asotin, and other nearby counties.
PM2.5 Monitors on Monday Morning
The National Weather Service has issued an air quality alert for all of central and eastern Washington. This will be updated on Wednesday, and we hope southern counties will only be experiencing short-lived smoky conditions.
It seems like the Miriam Fire isn't big enough to cause this much smoke in Yakima. Is there also quite a bit of the Chelan and Canadian smoke making its way down here? If so do you see that improving when the winds shift on Wednesday??
ReplyDeleteThanks!!!
Yes you are definitely seeing smoke from Chelan, Okanogan, and Canadian fires. Wednesday's westerly winds should definitely clear a bunch of that out for you. You may even see some relief on Tuesday evening.
DeleteOk, I am in North Marysville just to thw East of I5. It is really smokey here. And I know that a yard to the southwest of us was burning garbage and stuff on Saturday, but should it be such thick smoke today at ground level?
ReplyDeleteYes smoke is creeping down from Canada wildfires today and it may get worse. It should start to clear up in Western Washington tomorrow with clear conditions expected on Wednesday.
DeleteWhen will the smoke go away in Kennewick?
ReplyDeleteHopefully the smoke will clear out on Wednesday when the winds pick up and come from the west.
DeleteI would like to use my telescope but this weather is horrible so that's why I'm asking.
ReplyDeleteIs the haze in Sequim from fires in Canada?
ReplyDeleteYes that appears to be the source. You can see the latest MODIS image here: https://go.nasa.gov/2MITAm6
DeleteThank you for the link provided, much appreciated.
DeleteLittle confused about Western Washington. Darrington is socked in with smoke the air quality is definitely not good here as I read on this site it was posted as good? the sun is struggling to shine through all this smoke
ReplyDeleteDarrington is showing up with Unhealthy air quality at the moment. You're close enough to the Cascades that in addition to smoke from Canada, you're also getting smoke coming over the Cascades from fires on the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF. Winds should shift late tonight and into the early morning hours of tomorrow so air quality should improve then.
DeleteI was hoping to backpack in western Kittitas County at spectacle lake. Can you help with smoke forecast for this weekend?? Thanks very much!!
ReplyDeleteIt's too soon to know what the weekend will bring although I don't think that area has been hit too hard with smoke - until today that is. You'll have to check back later in the week.
DeleteI would be more worried about the throngs of PCT hikers stopping at spectacle- it’s busier than a European hostel this time of year
DeleteWalla Walla air quality is showing good and it is horrible right now. The Blue Mtns are no longer visible from the eastern side of town. Probably should do an update.
ReplyDeleteWalla Walla is showing "unhealthy". Please don't mistake the screen shot that was posted to the blog this morning with current conditions. For current conditions please see https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/ or airnow.gov
DeleteWe r thinking of riding over at Bumping Lake on Aug 14. What will the smoke be like in that area?
ReplyDeleteYou should expect continued smoky conditions tomorrow, though perhaps better than today. Wednesday will be more improved and could clear smoke in that area.
DeleteTo unknown in Darrington, this blog has a snapshot of what air quality was this morning. Go to https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/ and refresh. I've watched it go from Good to moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups over this past two hours.
ReplyDeleteWalla Walla is definitely worse than “moderate” in my opinion. “Unhealthy” seems a bit more realistic.
ReplyDeleteWalla Walla is showing "unhealthy". Please don't mistake the screen shot that was posted to the blog this morning with current conditions. For current conditions please see https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/ or airnow.gov
DeleteHow about Grand Coulee? What’s the expected this Thursday- Sunday?
ReplyDeleteIt’s a little too soon to know for sure. It will depend a lot on how the fires behave in addition to the weather. Please check back in a couple of days.
DeleteMost of the air quality monitors are represented by color-coded circles. What do the triangles represent?
ReplyDeleteThe triangles represent temporary monitors that are dispatched to areas affected by wildfires and managed by the fire teams. They are pretty good but not as accurate as the state monitors which are represented by the circles. And these monitors will disappear once the fires die down.
DeleteVery smoky air in Lacey/Olympia Washington right now. Is this from the Canada fires?
ReplyDeleteProbably mostly from Canada although east winds have moved some smoke over the mountains from the Wenatchee/Chelan area.
DeleteWhat is the elevation level? Could I go to somewhere like Artist Piint to watch the meteor shower or will it just be smoke?
ReplyDeleteThat’s a very difficult thing to predict. I suspect you’ll find there is still a smoke layer above you unfortunately. The best model to look at right now would be HRRR smoke which you can link to on the Air Quality Forecasting tab under the map. It shows a little clearing may be possible in that area but I think the model is being optimistic.
DeleteSeems like Wednesday holds some relief is that true for the Ellensburg and Kittitas Valley areas...?
ReplyDeleteI think so, the Canadian smoke shouldn't be a problem there once the winds on Wednesday push through. However, you will probably see some intermittent smoke from fires in Chelan county as the month progresses.
DeleteGoing to chelan Thursday, any relief coming?
ReplyDeleteChelan is right next to the Cougar Creek and Crescent Mountain fires. So, while the winds on Wednesday and Thursday will disperse the current lingering smoke, you should still be prepared for smoky conditions.
DeleteCurious when Spokane may get some relief, even if it's a small amount. Every little bit helps :)
ReplyDeleteI expect to see some clearing on Wednesday. Though, you should expect intermittent smoke through the month.
DeleteHow is the smoke over around ocean city? We are planning a trip there next week and then on down the coast
ReplyDeleteCurrently there is still smoky air in that area. Forecasting out a week in advance is uncertain, but there will likely be good air quality in that region next week.
DeleteSpokane valley, how is it there especially saturday
ReplyDeleteIt's too early to give a confident forecast for this weekend. However, current forecasts show that Friday evening into Saturday could clear up a little in Spokane. Though, it would be brief since Sunday will likely bring in more smoke.
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