Just a couple miles west of White Salmon, the Tunnel Five fire is burning actively in timber and brush, causing local smoke impacts in Skamania and Klickitat counties along the Columbia river. Evacuations and road closures are in effect while crews work on containing the fire. Currently the fire has burned over 500 acres in hot/dry conditions, and winds are expected to send smoke around the Columbia river gorge in that area for the next few days. White Salmon is currently showing unhealthy air on sensors, with moderate smoke making its way to Dallesport. Tuesday and Wednesday will have a wind shift, with local smoke impacts expected in Carson, Stevenson, and North Bonneville.
Hot and dry weather is expected through this week with fire danger expected to peak on Wednesday/Thursday. Fire potential is elevated on the 4th of July due to the combination of rising fire danger, dry weather, and potential extra ignitions. The National Weather Service currently has a Red Flag Warning for Central WA and SouthWest WA.
Meanwhile, we expect some moderate smoke to impact parts of WA on Tuesday/Wednesday from the BC fires. This will likely cause hazy conditions and some minor smoke impacts, at first across the northern counties of the state (e.g. Clallam, Whatcom, Okanogan, etc.) and potentially lingering across the state into Thursday.
Enjoy your mid-week Holiday!
I watched air conditions in much of King County spike from good or moderate to unhealthy or hazardous between 10 and 11 last night as people set off an enormous amount of fireworks. Usually on the 5th (and the 2nd of Jan.) I see air return to good/ moderate before sunrise, but still seeing a lot of poor air this morning. Is this wildfire smoke moving in, still air leaving fireworks smoke around, or some combination?
ReplyDeleteWhat we are seeing is a combination of fireworks, some smoke from British Columbia and smoke from several regional fires, including a large one in Mason County. We will provide updates later this morning after we've had a chance to look at the data and get a forecast together.
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