Strong winds through the weekend may help air quality for some, but will also fuel fire growth

Air Quality Alerts will remain in effect through Monday morning.

Air Quality Roundup

Fires across the region continue to burn actively as areas east of the Cascades remain in a hot, dry, and windy weather pattern. With increasing winds, air quality will likely improve in some areas during the day, but poor air quality will continue downstream of active fires and during the overnight hours. Air Quality Alerts have been extended until at least Monday morning for several counties in central and eastern Washington. 

Air quality remains impaired in the immediate area surrounding active fires, particularly near the Kaiser Canyon Fire which has now burned over 106,000 acres in southeastern Okanogan County and far southwestern Ferry County. Increasing southwesterly winds will help improve the air quality to Moderate in the afternoon, but smoke is still likely to settle near the fire overnight and may reach Very Unhealthy or even Hazardous levels locally.

Strengthening southwest winds will impact the Kaiser Canyon and Modrite fires, especially on Saturday. This could result in impressive smoke plumes which may worsen air quality impacts for areas like Republic, Kettle Falls, Inchelium, and Colville. The heaviest smoke is most likely from late afternoon through the morning and may reach Unhealthy levels.

The Little Giant, Ptarmigan, and Border 2 fires will continue to burn actively in the Cascades this weekend. Smoke has been settling overnight in the Methow Valley, along Lake Chelan, along the south end of Lake Wenatchee, and particularly in the Entiat River Valley. With strong winds coming across the Cascades, these areas may experience large fluctuations in air quality throughout the day. Overnight, smoke is likely to continue traveling down these valleys resulting in locally Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy air quality.

In the Columbia Basin, the Railroad Fire will continue to produce locally poor air quality near Mattawa and Royal City. Near the Tri-Cities, forward progress of the Locust Grove Fire has been stopped and fire activity is expected to decrease. Minimal smoke impacts have been observed.

The Paradise Fire along the state line in southwest Columbia County continues to grow gradually. In Oregon, several large fire complexes continue to burn and produce smoke. With persistent southwesterly winds, smoke and haze will continue to travel toward the northeast and cross into Washington. While some smoke will remain elevated, surface impacts are likely to continue near Walla Walla, the Blue Mountains, and for portions of the Palouse. Locally Unhealthy readings are possible mainly during the overnight and early morning hours.

Critical Fire Weather

Red Flag Warnings in effect through Saturday evening.

Critical fire weather conditions are expected to develop Friday afternoon and evening and will reach a peak on Saturday. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for most areas east of the Cascades due to the hot, dry, and windy conditions. Widespread wind gusts between 35-45mph on Saturday will fuel continued active fire behavior and lead to rapid spread of any new ignitions.

Even though the winds may help improve air quality in some areas, it's important to keep on our toes. New fires can develop quickly, and smoke from new ignitions can arrive suddenly with little warning.