Ongoing Smoke Impacts Near Active Fires

Air quality across the state continues to gradually improve, with the main exception being areas closest to active fires. Fire behavior has also eased thanks to cooler and wetter conditions, although fire activity is expected to remain active for the Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain Fires in the East Cascades and the Crown Creek, Lynx Mountain, Katy Creek, Rattlesnake, and Tacoma Creek Fires in Northeast WA. Fire activity for the Wildcat Fire east of Mount Rainier is expected to decrease. The Bear Gulch Fire near Lake Cushman is also expected to remain active, although growth has been minimal over recent days. In general, communities closest to active fires should expect intermittent to persistent smoke impacts as long as those fires burn. Air Quality Alerts remain in Chelan, Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille Counties.

The map at the top of this page includes a toggle to show daily zonal smoke forecasts. More localized forecasts for areas closest to active fires are also available by clicking on the forecast boxes on the map or check out the local outlooks tab on the blog.

The updated plot below looking at the total number of USG or worse days measured at monitoring sites during this smoke event underscores how difficult it has been to fully escape the smoke, especially in Central and Eastern WA.

Total number of USG or worse days measured at monitoring sites during this smoke event. Note that this does not include temporary monitors or low-cost sensors.

Cooler temperatures and scattered showers are beneficial to further improvements in air quality and reduced fire behavior, although no widespread wetting rain is expected in the near term. Looking ahead, we'll keep an eye on fire activity and the potential return of warmer and drier weather into next week. For now, enjoy the much-improved air quality.

Weekend Smoke Recap and A Look at the Week Ahead

Friday's Northern King County Smoke Event

Lake Forest Park air quality data from the Washington Department of Ecology.

Smoke levels spiked quickly in the several communities just north of Seattle Friday evening. PM2.5 concentrations at the Lake Forest Park air monitor peaked at 4:00PM, climbing briefly into the Very Unhealthy range, and prompting an Air Quality Alert as mentioned in the previous blog post.

GOES-18 visible satellite imagery. 9-5-2025 3:40 PM PDT

With several active fires in the state, you'd think it would be easy to find the culprit. Satellite imagery from late Friday afternoon shows both the Wildcat Fire and the Labor Mountain Fire burning actively. The Wildcat smoke plume, however, was still to the southeast of the impacted area as PM2.5 concentrations began to rise. 

In addition to the smoke plumes on satellite, a layer of smoke can be seen blanketing most of the state. Convective clouds can also be seen as mid-level moisture and instability moved northward into Washington. You can see some of these cloud features extending from western King County toward the Olympic Peninsula in the satellite image above.

GOES-18 visible satellite imagery. 9-5-2025 4:00 PM PDT

At this point in the day, these showers weren't very strong. At 4:00 PM, as concentrations were peaking at Lake Forest Park, you can see the band of clouds fizzling over far northwestern King County. The plume from the Wildcat Fire is still east of the impacted area.

As convective showers decay, they tend to produce downdrafts. A downdraft is a current of sinking air often associated with thunderstorms. This can be quite dramatic with a big thunderstorm on the plains, but they can also occur with weaker convective showers as well. It's hard to say with 100% certainty, but this is likely what occurred on Friday. As the clouds fizzled, a weak downdraft likely pushed some of the smoke toward the surface right into Lake Forest Park and surrounding communities. 

Eastern Washington Update

This prolonged period of poor air quality east of the Cascades continued through the weekend. Northeast Washington has been the hardest hit. Colville has reported UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS or worse since September 3rd. Several PurpleAirs along Lake Roosevelt and points south along the Columbia River have experienced periods of HAZARDOUS air quality due to active and, at times, extreme fire behavior on the Crown Creek, Katy Creek, Tacoma Creek, Snow Peak, and Lynx Mountain fires.

Further south along the Columbia, smoke from these fires in addition to the Rattlesnake Fire has brought the AQI to UNHEALTHY levels near the Grand Coulee Dam and even as far south as Soap Lake. 

On the east slopes of the Cascades, smoke from the Lower Sugarloaf Fire continued to impact Ardenvoir, Chelan, and Entiat, while smoke from the Wildcat Fire drained into the upper Naches Valley each morning.

The weekend also saw abundant lightning with more than 2,000 strikes in total across the state. Precipitation associated with these thunderstorms was very hit or miss, and new lightning ignitions have been discovered in the past 24 hours. Holdover ignitions will need to be monitored as the week progresses. With moderated fire weather conditions, smoke impacts from any new incidents are not expected to be widespread.

The Week Ahead

Air quality has improved over the weekend in western Washington, and that is expected to continue through the week with GOOD to MODERATE conditions expected. Fire activity at Bear Gulch has lowered with improved relative humidity and cooler temperatures, and monitors along Lake Cushman were also in the green Monday morning. Periods of elevated AQI can't be ruled out in the morning hours but expect more GOOD days this week.

East of the Cascades, air quality currently ranges from GOOD to VERY UNHEALTHY. The best air quality is generally found in south-central Washington and the Palouse. Heavier smoke remains in northeast Washington and in the previously mentioned impacted drainages. Because of this, Air Quality Alerts will remain in place in Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Yakima, and Benton counties.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected to continue along and east of the Cascades through at least mid-week. Once again, a mix of wet and dry storms are expected, and new ignitions are possible. Fortunately, cooler temperatures and improved relative humidity recovery should help initial attack on new incidents and reduce fire behavior on existing incidents. That said, with fuels as dry as they are, the fires already on the landscape will likely continue producing smoke impacts at a local level.

Air Quality Alert for King and Snohomish Counties

An Air Quality Alert for smoke has been issued by Puget Sound Clean Air Agency until 1200 PM PDT Saturday. 

Wildfires burning in Washington and Canada will continue to cause air quality to reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Unhealthy levels for portions of King County and southern Snohomish County.

Everyone, especially sensitive groups, should limit time spent outdoors, avoid strenuous activities outdoors, and choose light indoor activities.

For current and forecasted air quality conditions visit www.pscleanair.gov.

Friday Smoke Update: Poor Air Quality and Hazy Skies

Smoke continues to blanket the state, as seen on satellite imagery. Up until this week, it had been a relatively smoke-free summer in Washington--until mid-August, not a single monitoring site in Washington had recorded a day in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range or worse (out of 128 total monitoring sites). It is important to note that monitoring sites do not cover every location in the state, and some areas (i.e., Lake Cushman) have experienced worse smoke than what is captured by the statewide air monitoring network. This past week, multiple monitoring sites across the state reported several days of USG or worse air quality conditions. Even Western WA has seen impacts, as the Mount Rainier monitoring site observed smoke impacts from the Wildcat Fire. Thus far, monitoring sites in Southeast WA haven't observed any days greater than moderate AQI:

Total number of days USG or worse observed by monitoring sites over the past few days. Note that this does not include temporary monitors or low-cost sensors.

Current Fire and Smoke Conditions

Active fires grew substantially yesterday, including the Lower Sugarloaf Fire north of Leavenworth, Wildcat Fire west of Naches, Perry Fire northeast of Newhalem, and multiple fires in northeast WA (including the Crown Creek and Rattlesnake Fires).

East of the Cascades, Southeast Washington remains the "cleanest" part of the region, with conditions generally at the upper level of the moderate AQI range, although smoke may drift in from Idaho this afternoon. Winds east of the Cascades will stay light today and tomorrow; unfortunately, current smoke conditions are expected to persist. The Air Quality Alert for all counties in Central and Eastern WA remains in place through at least the weekend. 

In Western WA, hazy skies will continue today and tomorrow. Smoke from the Wildcat Fire may impact the foothills, including Packwood and Enumclaw. Periods of USG are also possible in eastern King, eastern Pierce, and western Kitsap counties today and tomorrow. There will be heavy smoke at high elevations in the Cascades. Impaired air quality will also continue near Lake Cushman due to the Bear Gulch Fire. Elsewhere in Western WA, air quality at the surface will mostly range from good to moderate, with the best air quality along the coast. 

During this smoke event, much of the smoke in Western Washington remains aloft in the atmosphere. You can see it, but you can't breathe it. A ceilometer--a laser based instrument that measures the vertical profile of the atmosphere helps to visualize upper level smoke. Data from the Seattle-Beacon Hill ceilometer over the past 24 hours shows the smoke layer overhead:

Ceilometer data from Seattle-Beacon Hill for the past 24 hours. Source: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

When will this end?

East of the Cascades, air quality in Central and Eastern Washington will remain poor through this weekend. While shifting winds may move the smoke around and concentrations may fluctuate slightly, much of the region will stay socked in until a stronger push of cleaner air arrives. A further concern: increasing winds on Sunday could increase fire activity. Potential thunderstorms this weekend could also lead to new fire starts. 

Upcoming cooler and wetter weather should moderate fire activity, but the best chance for significant clearing isn't expected until early to middle of next week. Communities closest to active fires will continue experiencing smoke impacts as long as those fires remain active.

Western WA will likely see an end to hazy skies by the end of the weekend.

We'll update as needed, and continue to keep an eye on the map at the top of this page for current and forecasted air quality conditions. 

Smoke and your health

When there is wildfire smoke, take the following steps to protect yourself and your family:

• Stay inside with cleaner indoor air:
• Close windows and doors unless it's too hot to maintain safe temperatures.
• Avoid activities that add to indoor air pollution, such as smoking or burning candles.
• Filter indoor air with a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter, a box fan filter, or your HVAC system set to recirculate.
• If you are not able to maintain cleaner and cooler air at home, go elsewhere for cleaner air.
• Pay attention to symptoms and seek medical help if needed.
• If you must go outside, wear a well-fitting N95 mask, limit physical exertion, and stay hidrated.
• Local health departments and fire districts are great resources for finding wildfire and cleaner air shelter.
• Check in on your neighbors and people in your community during a smoke event.

For more information on how to protect ourself, visit DOH's Smoke from Fires page.

Thursday Smoke Update

Wildfires in central and eastern Washington showed extreme fire behavior on Wednesday. In particular, the Wildcat Fire was intense enough to tap into mid-level moisture and generate its own thunderstorm, also known as a pyro-cumulonimbus cloud. Later in the evening, the Lower Sugarloaf Fire did the same thing!

Fires burning actively across Washington and British Columbia on Wednesday, September 4. A fire-generated thunderstorm, or pyro-cumulonimbus cloud, can be seen first above the Wildcat Fire in Yakima County and then above the Lower Sugarloaf Fire in Chelan County. Image via CIRA/RAMMB.

Fire-generated thunderstorm over the Wildcat Fire on Wednesday, September 3, viewed from the Paradise Visitor Center at Mount Rainier National Park. Photo courtesy Tom Banse.

With the fire activity across British Columbia and Washington, much of the state is now under a blanket of wildfire smoke. An air quality alert is in effect for all counties of central and eastern Washington through the weekend and possibly beyond. The alert will be re-evaluated on Monday.

GOES-18 satellite imagery valid 8:36 a.m. on Thursday, September 4.

Despite the hazy skies, not all of Washington is experiencing poor air quality at the surface. In fact much of western Washington, especially west of I-5, is experiencing GOOD air quality due to the influence of onshore flow and marine air in the lower levels of the atmosphere. 

That being said, air quality is certainly deteriorated across the Cascades and much of eastern Washington, ranging from MODERATE to HAZARDOUS. Impacts are particularly notable across the Methow Valley, much of NE Washington, and around the Wildcat Fire. Locally near Lake Cushman, air quality is also significantly deteriorated due to the Bear Gulch Fire.

Air quality index measurements via the EPA Fire and Smoke Map, valid 11:46 a.m. on Thursday, September 4. The worst impacts are evident in Northeastern WA, Yakima County/Mt. Rainier, and near Lake Cushman. 

Air quality across central and eastern Washington is expected to remain poor or even get worse in some areas through the weekend. In western Washington, light easterly flow will also pull smoke overhead, though the expectation is that most of the heavier smoke concentrations will remain at elevations above 1,000'-2,000', with less concentration at the surface in the Puget Lowlands. That being said, it will be a very smoky weekend in the higher elevations of the Cascades. Keep in mind, this is just a forecast. With this much smoke moving overhead, it's recommended to check current air quality conditions often for anyone across the state.

Cross-section from the HRRR smoke model, valid at 5:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Heavy smoke is likely in the Cascades and Columbia Basin. The model indicates relatively less smoke at the surface in Puget Sound. 

Going forward, there could be modest clearing on Sunday into Monday, especially in western Washington and through the Columbia Gorge as stronger onshore winds arrive. Cooler temperatures and some moisture next week should help with control efforts on some of the large fires across the state, but it likely won't be enough to put the fires out. Smoke will continue to affect portions of eastern Washington as long as those fires continue to burn. 

Additional blog updates will continue through the duration of this smoke event. 

Ongoing Smoke Impacts in Central and Eastern WA

 This morning's satellite imagery shows considerable smoke across Central and Eastern Washington:

Source: College of DuPage

New incidents continue to emerge and active fires continue to grow. The Lynx Mountain Fire northwest of Inchelium is adding to the mix of fires in Northeast WA. In Central WA, The Lower Sugarloaf Fire 12 miles northeast of Leavenworth grew quickly overnight and is sending smoke to the southeast.

In the Cascades near Mount Rainier, the Wildcat Fire is currently estimated at 1,279 acres and 0% contained. Continue to keep an eye on daily smoke outlooks for the fire for local smoke impacts and fire information. Further north, the Perry and Martin Fires in the northern and central Cascades are producing localized smoke.

In Western WA, the hot and dry weather contributed to slight growth of the Bear Gulch Fire (currently 9,400 acres). The fire is expected to remain active and produce local smoke impacts in the Lake Cushman/Hoodsport areas. 

Active fires in Washington and BC. Source: DNR. Accessed Sept 3, 9am.

Increasing Smoke Impacts

Smoke will increase throughout the day today; most of Central and Eastern Washington should expect air quality impacts ranging from Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Very Unhealthy as the smoke mixes down to the surface. Light and variable winds will do little to disperse the smoke, allowing PM2.5 to accumulate. In addition to smoke from fires in Washington, smoke from wildfires in Southern British Columbia will drift south into Okanogan and Chelan Counties. We're also monitoring other regional fires (i.e., the Ulm Creek Fire in Idaho) that could add to smoke impacts in the coming days. 

In Western WA, smoke impacts will be mostly minimal at the surface--but haze will be visible as smoke drifts aloft.

Air Quality Alerts have been expanded to include all counties in Central and Eastern WA. 

When will conditions improve?

Unfortunately, relief from the smoke in Central and Eastern WA won't arrive for at least a few days. Hot, dry, and unstable conditions will continue through Friday. In addition to poor smoke dispersion, dry thunderstorms will increase the potential for lightning and new fires--and these new fires will likely grow quickly. Fire weather concerns begin to ease on Friday, but the heat will persist and it could take time for the smoke to mix out. We'll update as needed as smoke continues and new fires emerge--keep an eye on the map at the top of this page for current and forecasted air quality conditions.

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As an aside, if it feels like early September often brings smoky skies, you're right. Fire season remains active this time of year, and since 2012, Washington has frequently experienced smoke well into September. The plot below shows the statewide summer daily averages from all monitoring sites in the state, with 2025 highlighted in bold black against the gray lines of 2012-2024.

Air Quality Alerts and Heat Warnings in Eastern Washington

Wildfires Increasing and Growing

Lightning has ignited numerous wildfires across central and eastern Washington in the past week including incidents that are still emerging after dry thunderstorms over the weekend. 

In northeastern Washington, the Crown Creek Fire has rapidly grown to 3,193 acres and the Rattlesnake Fire has grown to 1,887 acres. There are also smaller but growing fires in that area including Katy Creek and Tacoma Creek Fires. All of these fires are 0% contained and producing significant smoke.

A view of the Crown Creek Fire on Sunday, August 31, 2025. Image via InciWeb.

Fire activity has also increased in the Cascades, especially along and just east of the Cascade Crest. The largest new fire in that area is the 1,170 acre Wildcat Fire burning near Bumping Lake in Yakima County, east of Mount Rainier National Park. The park remains open to the public, but further east, the Pacific Crest Trail is now closed between White Pass and Chinook Pass. For those living and recreating near Mount Rainier, daily smoke outlooks are now being produced for the Wildcat Fire by an Air Resource Advisor. These forecasts offer visitors guidance around finding a less smoky area or favored time of day that might minimize smoke exposure. The 737 acre Perry Fire, 122 acre Martin Fire, and numerous emerging incidents are also producing localized smoke impacts in the central and northern Cascades.

Very tall smoke plume on the Wildcat Fire, Sunday, August 31. Photo taken by Nick Wigle, accessed via InciWeb.

Lastly, the 9,388 acre Bear Gulch Fire continues to burn in western Washington on the Olympic Peninsula, west of Lake Cushman. It is 10% contained and burning in steep, rugged terrain. 

Smoke Impacts Building in Central/Eastern Washington

As of Tuesday afternoon, smoke is mainly concentrated in the Cascades and across eastern Washington. The larger population centers on the east side of the state such as Wenatchee, the Tri-Cities, and Spokane are generally experiencing MODERATE air quality. However, smaller communities closer to the current fires are experiencing air quality ranging from UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS to VERY UNHEALTHY – this includes places like Colville where the AQI has rapidly spiked today. Smoke has also been drifting into places like Moses Lake this afternoon. For a full picture of current air quality you can always view the map at the top of this page. Air quality alerts are now in effect until further notice for Spokane, Lincoln, Stevens, Grant, Kittitas, and Yakima Counties. 

Air quality spiking Tuesday afternoon in Colville, WA. Data via the Department of Ecology.

As high pressure sits over the state and new fires emerge and potentially grow this week, smoke will likely continue across eastern Washington and through the Cascades. Day to day smoke concentrations will vary depending on wind direction, but full clearing of the smoke seems unlikely through at least Friday. West of the Cascades, smoke concentrations will be less – but may still be visible at upper levels of the atmosphere. Some of the smoke moving overhead will also be coming from distant fires in Oregon, especially the Emigrant Fire.

Heat and Smoke Combine - How to Protect Yourself

In addition to smoke, much of eastern Washington is under Heat Advisories or Extreme Heat Warnings. Temperature records are being challenged for this time of year, though it remains to be seen whether smoke will have a slight cooling effect that keeps us from breaking those records. 

NWS Heat Risk for Wednesday, September 3.

Smoke and heat combined can present unique challenges. Heat is the more immediately dangerous threat. If it's hot indoors during poor air quality, these steps can help you stay cool:

• Close windows, curtains, and shades during the day and use portable fans.
• Minimize your use of the stove and oven during the hottest parts of the day.
• Take a cool bath or shower. Be mindful of extreme temperature changes, which can cause life-threatening issues.
• Use ice packs or put your feet in cool water. Apply wet rags on the back of your neck or mist yourself with water while sitting near a fan.
• Stay hydrated, especially with water. Avoid sugary or alcoholic drinks since these can be dehydrating.
• Go to a cooler indoor place – even if only for a few hours. For updated information on cooling centers in your community, visit Washington 2-1-1.
• Only open windows when it is cooler outside than inside. An open window is most effective when a door or additional window can be opened to provide a cross draft. For more information, see Cooling Indoor Spaces Without Air Conditioning (PDF). 
• Take steps to filter indoor air (See “How can I improve filtration in my home to reduce smoke levels?”).
• Check on your neighbors and others in your community who may not have access to cooling.

For more on protecting yourself from smoke and extreme heat, see the Department of Health 'Smoke From Fires' webpage.

Additional blog updates will be posted as conditions warrant this week and beyond. Stay cool out there!

New Fires This Weekend

Several new fires have grown this weekend, many of which were caused by lightning on Friday night.  

Crews are working hard to contain fire growth, but the Crown Creek fire near Colville has been especially problematic.  Currently air quality is unhealthy in the Colville region. Low mixing heights are containing smoke near the surface, and unfortunately the light wind flow and hot temperatures in Northeast Washington are expected to continue for the coming days.  The Katy Creek fire is also adding to the mix.

The map below shows the most significant fires in the state right now, causing smoke in their areas.  The Perry and Wildcat fires are impacting air quality in the Cascade mountains, while the Bear Gulch fire continues to impact the area around Lake Cushman.

Large fires in Washington (August 31, 2025), courtesy of NIFC.

If you live around south-central Washington, don't be surprised if the Emigrant fire in Oregon causes some moderate haze in the coming days, as satellite imagery shows a significant plume.  

Smoke Expected to Continue.

Fire and Smoke Map 8/29/2025

Smoke in Washington has been largely due to smoke from other fires outside of the state. The highest levels of poor air quality locally, remains closest to current fires.

WA DNR's Wildfire Dashboard

Currently in Washington, there are 4 major fires.  The current concerns are of scattered thunderstorms. Going into Monday, we enter a significant, possibly record-setting heat wave – especially for the eastern half of the state. Temperatures in eastern Washington will be in the 95 to 105 degree range each day Monday through Thursday. 

Western Washington will also feel a heatwave starting Wednesday of next week next week, peaking Thursday or Friday with temperatures in the upper 80s to mid 90s, potentially nearing 100 in portions of far SW WA and the Columbia Gorge.

With heightened temperatures and dried fuels, concerns remain for new fire starts. Forecasters will keep an eye on weather changes and new fire starts. 

Statewide smoke update: heat and lingering impacts

Over the weekend, smoke drifting in from fires in Central Idaho led to significant smoke impacts in Southeast Washington. 

Yesterday's satellite imagery showcased the smoke from Idaho impacting Southeast Washington. Smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire is also visible, as well as a new fire in British Columbia.

Satellite image from 2pm Sunday, August 24 showing smoke from fires in Idaho impacting Southeast Washington. A localized plume of smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire near Lake Cushman is also visible, as well as a narrow plume in British Columbia. Source: NASA Worldview. 

Monitoring sites in Clarkston and Pullman observed some of the highest PM2.5 concentrations of the season:

Hourly PM2.5 concentrations from monitoring sites in Clarkston and Pullman. Data accessed 11am 8/25/2025.

Hot weather combined with increased regional fire activity continues to produce widespread haze and moderate air quality across much of the state. The heat will continue into Wednesday morning. Smoke impacts in Southeast WA will continue through at least mid-week, although likely less impactful than the weekend's smoke due to shifting winds. Air quality will likely remain moderate with periods of USG. There may be occasional Unhealthy air quality in the Clarkston area. Lingering haze could extend as far north as Spokane. 

The Bear Gulch Fire remains active. The greatest smoke impacts will continue to be closest to the fire near Lake Cushman. Haze will be visible throughout the region.

Moderate air quality was observed yesterday in western WA and continues into today. While smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire is contributing to slightly degraded air quality, heat and stagnant meteorological conditions are also trapping pollutants at the surface. Light winds are limiting dispersion, allowing pollution to accumulate. It's likely that the PM2.5 currently measured at monitoring sites reflects both wildfire smoke and Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA). SOA forms in the atmosphere when volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted from vehicles, industrial processes, and trees and plants react with oxidants in the atmosphere, including ozone. Hot weather enhances ozone formation and increases the biogenic (trees and plants) fraction of VOC emissions.  Over the weekend, elevated ozone concentrations were observed along the Cascade Foothills of King and Pierce counties; similar conditions are expected today and tomorrow.

Critical fire conditions are expected today and tomorrow in the Cascades and Methow Valley. The heat will begin to ease on Wednesday; cooler temperatures may reduce fire behavior and lessen smoke impacts. However, smoke and haze may linger through the week. If new fires start, smoke impacts could increase. Keep an eye on current and forecasted conditions on the map at the top of this page, and we'll provide updates as needed.