Cloud cover has been widespread across the region recently, bringing some welcome moisture and cooler weather to parts of the state. Unfortunately, those clouds also masked active fire locations and our ability to see smoke in satellite imagery. Despite the recent rain in parts of the state, it wasn't strong enough to put out our wildfires. The NWCC Morning Brief today notes several fires in the Cascades that still are exhibiting moderate fire behavior: Goat Rocks, Bolt Creek, White River & Irving Peak, Minnow Ridge, and Kalama fires. There is also minimal fire activity in the NW Pasayten Complex and Chilliwack Complex.
Residents in Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Methow Valley, and surrounding areas have been living with Moderate to Unhealthy smoke intermittently for many days, and will continue to get impacted by wildfire smoke today. Visible smoke is still evident this morning on the Wenatchee and Winthrop webcams. Winds through the Cascade gaps today will be breezy but cooler temperatures should limit fire growth. There should be fewer smoke intrusions over the weekend but areas close to fires will continue to be impacted.
Tomorrow the winds will start to transition and come from the east, with smoke impacts in the mountain valley areas West of the Cascades expected for several days. The Puget Sound lowlands should also expect intermittent smoke from the Cascades through the weekend and into next week. If recent trends are any indication, residents along the Skykomish river drainage (King/Snohomish county border) should especially expect Moderate to Unhealthy impacts for several days.
Temperatures will warm this weekend into next week and offshore flow is likely, but appears to stay light through the weekend. Most models show continued warm and dry conditions through much of next week, so we should expect moderate fire activity to continue. The good news is that there isn't enough fire activity to cause a large widespread regional smoke event. However, fresh smoke will continue to meander around the Cascades for the foreseeable future, as no rainfall (other than today's leftovers) are expected over the next week.
Current Weather Story:
Saturday through Wednesday Weather Story:
Had been hoping to backpack in the chelan-sawtooth area this upcoming Sunday-Tuesday. Air quality there the past couple days has been hovering around "unhealthy for sensative groups" which had me questioning if I needed to find another option.
ReplyDeleteHowever with the winds shifting going east to west, do you think the area east of lake chelan might (near Methow) might actually have better air quality over the above listed days?
The winds will be light and variable in that area, so I expect that there could be Moderate to USG smoke on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday will probably show more of a diurnal effect, with nighttime smoldering and early morning drainage followed by stronger easterly winds in the afternoon that should clear out smoke there. There is less fire activity south of the Wenatchee mountains, so if you want to try to completely avoid smoke, you may want to head that way.
DeleteSo some trails closer to Roslyn in the southern alpine lakes wilderness might be more prudent options? Given that the nearest station (Cle Elum) has been more or less pretty good air quality?
DeleteYea that area and anything south of there should be a good bet.
DeleteJust to clarify, when you say the Puget Sound lowlands should see intermittent smoke, would that include as far as the Downtown Seattle/Capitol Hill area? Because Komo's weather blog made it sound like the northerly winds would prevent the smoke from reaching surface level here.
ReplyDeleteI think Downtown Seattle should be pretty good, but I wouldn't be surprised if you saw moderate smoke in the early morning hours on Saturday or next week. Everett area is more likely to get a persistent smoke pattern though.
DeleteThank you so much for this information!
DeleteHello! Thanks for the update. We're headed out to the Methow Valley this afternoon and staying through the weekend. Should we except the easterly winds that are expected to pick up tomorrow will clear out some of the smoke for a few days?
ReplyDeleteWinds are expected to be light and variable up there at times, with definite chances of early morning smoke drainage. The easterlies should help blow smoke out as the day progresses. You may want to keep windows closed at night during sleep hours.
DeleteThanks for the always helpful updates. Sounds like we are stuck with more of the same for the time being. Was hoping to get out for a quick hike in the Issaquah Alps this weekend - do you think I might experience some smoke issues in that area? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI don't see any notable smoke concerns in that area this weekend. Snoqualmie pass drainage and south should mostly be OK.
DeleteI live in Seattle and seem to be quite sensitive to the smoke. My eyes burn and I have been very uncomfortable (up and down) the past two weeks -- I see one forecast that has smoke returning here Sun/Mon/Tues - -do you have any idea when this might clear up? I'm wondering if I should leave the state for a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteAny smoke that makes its way to Seattle over the weekend should be light and short-lived. Perhaps Saturday and Sunday a little smoke will creep in overnight and clear out later in the day. I don't expect concentrations as high as you saw last week, and the first few days of next week shouldn't be a problem for Seattle air quality.
DeleteWhat about for folks in the southern Puget sound area Olympia, Lacey Tumwater? How does the smoke outlook fair for that area?
ReplyDeleteI don't see any notable wildfire smoke concerns that far south at this time. The Goat Rocks fire activity might be a small concern sometime next week, but likely minimal if any. Related, JBLM munitions training or practice burns have been causing a little localized smoke in that area this summer. That could continue but I don't know their schedule.
DeleteIt doesn't seem like the smoke is going away any time soon is it? This is the first year I can remember it lasting so long into October.
ReplyDeleteAs long as wildfires continue burning and we don't get any rain, we will be seeing hazy skies and moderate smoke impacts throughout Western Washington.
DeleteVery informative content really appreciate the hard work. Regards CharleneIzere
ReplyDelete