Thunderstorms to the north and smoke in the basin expected this week

Weather on the horizon

Residents in the northern half of eastern Washington have been inundated with smoke for what seems like an eternity!  A weather system will bring scattered thunderstorms across Northern Washington and BC this week, but the amount of precipitation will likely not be enough to abate fire activity.  Lightning could also spark new fires near the Canadian border. 

National Weather Service - Weather Story Graphic for Tuesday August 11

Smoke Forecast

Winds will shift this week and bring smoke from the north into the Columbia Basin. The WSU AIRPACT-6 forecast plots below show the 10 am predictions for Wednesday and Thursday, with smoke expected to make its way a little into the western slopes of the Cascades, as well as increased smoke in South-Central Washington. 

Predicted smoke for Wednesday at 10 am (AIRPACT-6)

Predicted smoke for Thursday at 10 am (AIRPACT-6)

Fires in Washington

Several fires in Washington are still burning actively, while others have seen reduced activity and containment due to the amazing efforts by firefighters.  Below is a list of notable fires in our state.

Ptarmigan – Started July 17; 23,745 Acres Burned; 8% Contained; Okanogan County

Sinlahekin – Started July 26; 148,690 Acres Burned; 42% Contained; Okanogan County

Luna – Started July 2; 3,691 Acres Burned; 0% Contained; Whatcom County

Border 2 – Started July 17; 10,538 Acres Burned, 0% Contained, Whatcom County

Little Giant – Started July 16; 122,401 Acres Burned; 2% Contained; Chelan & Okanogan Counties 

Three Queens – Started July 15; 2,922 Acres Burned; 0% Contained; Kittitas County 

Kaiser Canyon – Started July 16; 138,210 Acres Burned; 69% Contained; Okanogan & Ferry Counties 

Modrite – Started July 17; 57,144 Acres Burned; 61% Contained; Stevens & Ferry Counties 

Hudspeth – Started August 1; 5,850 Acres Burned; 42% Contained; Stevens County

Spokane Fires:

Autumn Lane – Started August 1; 5,764 Acres Burned; 89% Contained

Old Trails – Started August 1; 3,175 Acres Burned; 73% Contained 

Fairview – Started August 1; 992 Acres Burned; 97% Contained

Paradise – Started July 16; 3,531 Acres Burned; 0% Contained; Columbia County

High Lava – Started July 23; 1,167 Acres Burned; 0% Contained; Skamania County 

Terra/MODIS image for Tuesday morning (Aug. 11) - Courtesy of NASA Worldview

Coping with wildfire smoke

Creating a support network in your community will help everyone manage the stress, anxiety, and health risks of wildfire season.  Make sure to take care of your own mental health by seeking out activities that keep you calm and grounded. Learn more about choosing the right mask if you do have to be outside, and smoke safety for workers.