Poor Air Quality Continues

Impaired air quality continues across Eastern Washington, with a significant amount of smoke lingering in the atmosphere from local and regional fires. Light winds are providing little help in dispersing the smoke.

GOES-West satellite imagery (July 21, 1046 PDT)

Fires of note in Washington:

• Kaiser Canyon Fire in Nespelem grew another 2,600 acres overnight and is now over 60,000 acres. Hot and dry conditions will continue to lead to fire growth. 
• Modrite Fire near Inchelium has grown to almost 8,000 acres.
• Little Giant Fire is burning in a remote part of the Glacier Peak Wildnerness about 41 miles northwest of Leavenworth. Currently almost 800 acres, it's located in challenging terrain and will continue to grow with the hot and dry weather. Smoke impacts to downwind communities (Plain, Leavenworth, Wenatchee) will continue as the fire remains active.

In Eastern WA, Air Quality Alerts are in place for the following counties through at least tomorrow morning: Benton, Ferry, Franklin, Grant, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, and Walla Walla Counties.

Continued light winds today will keep smoke in Eastern WA, with the greatest smoke impacts closest to active fires. Expect increased smoke impacts in the Columbia Basin throughout today as well in addition to continued localized impacts in the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla areas from Oregon fires. Thanks to an increase in winds from the west, gradual improvement will likely begin Wednesday evening. Unfortunately, the increase in winds also brings critical fire weather; smoke impacts will evolve with any new fires and increased fire growth.  

In Western WA, expect upper-level haze to continue today, with the majority of the smoke remaining aloft in the atmosphere. At the surface, air quality conditions will be mostly Moderate with periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups possible in Eastern King and Eastern Snohomish Counties as well as communities at higher elevation (above about 2,000 feet above sea level). Elevated ozone concentrations may also contribute to air quality impacts in Eastern King and Eastern Pierce Counties. Cleaner air and clearer skies should return Wednesday evening with onshore flow. Air Quality Alerts continue through tomorrow morning in Skagit and Whatcom Counties.

Heat and Smoke

In addition to smoke, most of the state is under heat advisories. Health impacts can be amplified when it is hot and smoky, so be sure to pay attention to any symptoms and check out DOH's resources on how to protect yourself from smoke. 

Smoke from the Little Giant Fire NW of Leavenworth (Inciweb, July 20).