Statewide smoke forecast for the weekend and beyond

While there are a few small fires in Central Washington, air quality across Washington State is GOOD (we're thinking of our friends in the midwest and on the east coast that are currently dealing with poor air quality). However, a building high pressure system will result in hot and dry temperatures through the weekend.

The National Weather Service issued a Fire Weather Watch for portions of Central Washington on Saturday.

Please keep in mind that fireworks not only contribute to smoke but also are responsible for starting new fires. Fires can start and spread much more easily in hot and dry conditions. Please exercise extreme caution if igniting fireworks. If recreating, check local fire restrictions and consider if a campfire is necessary. 

Based on the hot and dry weather, some areas may observe Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups air quality intermittently through the weekend and holiday. It's also likely that local smoke impacts from firework displays and usage will linger into the morning of July 5th. 

We're also keeping an eye on the wildfires burning in Alberta and British Columbia--shifting conditions to winds from the north could lead to smoke impacts in Washington State next week. At this time it's uncertain how much of that transported smoke will reach the surface and how much will stay above us in the atmosphere. A reminder that the latest air quality conditions and 5 day smoke forecast are shown in the map at the top of this page, and we'll update the blog as needed.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!