Canadian smoke and critical fire weather

Smoke from the Placer Creek Fire in Southern BC is impacting communities in northeastern Washington. The fire began over the weekend and has quickly grown to 6400 acres. This morning's satellite image shows the smoke plume moving southeast.

GOES-WEST 14 Jul 2025 15:11Z

Smoke is also visible west of Tonasket:

Smoke visible at Aeneas Mountain west of Tonasket. Image courtesy: DNR/Pano

Smoke from the fire will continue to impact northeastern Washington until shifting winds this afternoon push the smoke south into the Okanogan Valley.

Smoke from the Hope and Western Pines Fires in northeastern WA continue to impact nearby communities. Firefighting efforts on both fires continue, but hot, dry, and windy conditions will challenge efforts and increase fire activity. Communities nearby to both fires should continue to expect intermittent smoke impacts. In general, most of Central and Eastern WA will observe moderate air quality over the next few days due to multiple fires in the region.

Critical Fire Weather Today

Extreme fire weather is expected this afternoon in Okanogan Valley; very strong winds (sustained winds 30-40 mph and gusts up to 50-60 mph) are forecasted for the area. The strong winds in addition to the hot and dry conditions will contribute to critical fire weather in the Okanogan Valley as well as the Columbian Basin. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for most of Eastern WA through Wednesday.

These strong north winds will transport Canadian smoke south into the Okanogan Valley. Any new fire starts will spread quickly and existing fires (including the Pomas Fire) will exhibit increased growth. 

Fire weather concerns will ease Thursday with the return of westerly winds that will also help scour out any areas of poor air quality.  

Western WA Smoke Impacts Tomorrow

Tomorrow winds from the northeast will push Canadian smoke into northwestern Washington (primarily eastern Whatcom, Skagit, and northern Snohomish counties). Most of the smoke will likely stay above us in the atmosphere but a fraction may mix down to the surface tomorrow afternoon leading to moderate air quality at worst. Haze may be noticeable across western Washington before westerly winds return on Thursday.

Statewide smoke update

There are a number of fires across the state causing mostly localized smoke impacts. Moving west to east:

The Bear Gulch Fire along Lake Cushman has increased to 415 acres. Smoke impacts have been minimal thanks to recent cooler weather, but communities closest to the fire should expect intermittent periods of smoke. Authorities are asking people to avoid the north end of Lake Cushman and many recreation sites are closed.

The Toonerville Fire in Belfair (currently 85 acres) has also caused minor smoke impacts to the immediate area. Evacuations are in place; more information can be found from the North Mason Regional Fire Authority.

The Pomas Fire northwest of Entiat continues to grow (currently 3,330 acres) and exhibit active fire behavior. Smoke impacts will continue to be concentrated in the Entiat River Valley.

In Lincoln County, the Western Pines Fire (10 miles north of Davenport) began yesterday and has grown to almost 4,000 acres. Smoke from the fire is currently impacting the Wellpinit area. Smoke will disperse to the east this afternoon. Tonight and into tomorrow morning winds will push smoke to the south of the fire, causing periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups air quality in the Davenport area.

Located about 15 miles north of Kettle Falls, the Hope Fire began on the afternoon of July 8 and has quickly grown to 6,700 acres. The fire is burning mainly in grass and shrubs, and smoke impacts have largely been concentrated in and to the north of Kettle Falls. Local smoke impacts will continue with periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups and potentially Unhealthy air quality closest to the fire. Communities to the south of the fire (including Colville) will likely observe smoke impacts tonight and into tomorrow morning.

Cooler temperatures continue today, but breezy winds may spread smoke. Warm, dry, and windy conditions return this weekend leading to increasing smoke from active fires and rapid spread of any new fire starts. Keep an eye on current and forecasted air quality at the map at the top of this page and we'll update as necessary.

Western Pines Fire in north Lincoln County. Source: Watch Duty.

Bear Gulch Fire burns along Lake Cushman, Pomas Fire sees significant growth

Bear Gulch Fire

Folks along the southeastern Olympic Peninsula and around the Puget Sound might've noticed a layer of haze Tuesday morning. 

The Bear Gulch Fire started Sunday evening in the Olympic National Forest along the northern shore of Lake Cushman and produced an impressive smoke plume Monday afternoon and evening.

Warm, dry weather fueled the fire on Monday and has burned approximately 200 acres, per the Olympic National Forest. 

Air quality near the LCMC Park on the east shore of Lake Cushman was UNHEALTHY Monday morning, with improvement to GOOD by Monday night. Air quality has since degraded and is back to UNHEALTHY conditions Tuesday morning.

Smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire from a camera in the southern Olympic Mountains. Image courtesy: DNR/Pano

Slightly higher relative humidity should limit fire growth on Tuesday but expect the fire to continue to produce smoke with the greatest impacts along Lake Cushman. Communities such as Hoodsport, Potlatch, and Skokomish may see periods of UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS, mainly in the morning hours.

For updates on the fire, follow the Olympic National Forest and the Mason County Sheriff's Office on Facebook.

Pomas Fire

Jumping over to the Cascades, the Pomas Fire continues to burn in the upper Entiat River valley. Monday was a very active day, with pyrocumulus clouds observed multiple times in the afternoon and evening, and an impressive smoke plume visible on satellite imagery.

Pyrocumulus clouds billowing above the smoke plume of the Pomas Fire Monday evening. Image courtesy: Lake Wenatchee Fire & Rescue

The fire grew approximately 415 acres on Monday, bringing the fire perimeter to 2,890 acres.

Despite the impressive smoke plume, air quality across eastern Washington is mostly in the green as the smoke aloft has remained aloft as it dispersed to the east.

The greatest smoke impacts from the fire will continue to be in the Entiat River valley, where UNHEALTHY conditions will continue to be possible each morning following active fire behavior. Air quality is expected to improve to GOOD in the afternoon.

Gusty winds Tuesday afternoon and evening followed by a dry cold front Wednesday may limit overnight drainage and actually reduce these smoke impacts, but these winds and low relative humidity will bring critical fire conditions to the region.

Apple Acres Fire

The Apple Acres Fire is approximately 3,410 acres and 70% contained. With Red Flag Warnings in place, fire activity may increase Tuesday and Wednesday. The remaining fuel the fire could burn is mostly comprised of grass, so any potential smoke impacts will be in the immediate vicinity of the fire.

Wishing You a Happy and Safe Fourth of July!

Weekend Weather

Seasonable conditions are expected to return today and tomorrow. There is a small chance for isolated thunderstorms in the southeast region early Friday morning and again for Friday evening, but widespread thunderstorms are not expected. Going into the weekend, we do expect a general warming and drying trend with well above average temperatures for the early part of next week.

 

Current Fire Situation

There are currently 3 named fires in Washington (Pomas, Siegel, and Apple Acres) that remain active. In spite of that, air quality is looking GOOD overall with MODERATE levels showing up in those areas closest to the fires.

 

Firework Safety

While we all love great firework shows, it’s important to take safety into consideration. Please keep in mind that fireworks not only contribute to smoke but also are responsible for starting new fires. Fires can start and spread much more easily in hot and dry conditions. Please exercise extreme caution if igniting fireworks. If recreating, check local fire restrictions and consider if a campfire is necessary. 

For more safety tips, check out WA Department of Health's Public Health Tips for the Fourth and be sure to keep an eye on this blog for future updates and current air quality.

Pomas Fire, smoke aloft, and warming temperatures

Earlier this week winds transported smoke from active fires in Canada and Alaska into our region. The smoke mostly stayed aloft in the atmosphere; the fraction of smoke that mixed down to the surface resulted in moderate air quality across most of the central and eastern part of the state. Satellite imagery from Monday showed the smoke plume moving south:

GOES-West satellite image (6/23/2025) showing the smoke plume aloft in the atmosphere.

The Pomas Fire northwest of Entiat continues to grow (currently 1,521 acres), although smoke impacts have been minimal over the past few days; surface air quality has been mostly moderate. The minimal smoke impacts should continue with continuing cooler temperatures this week. However, winds from the west/northwest will push any smoke down valley into the Entiat/Chelan area. Firefighting efforts continue to be challenging due to the steep terrain and large amounts of dead timber in the area. In attempts to contain the fire, firefighters are utilizing containment lines from previous fires in the area as well as applying protective fire-resistant materials to infrastructure. A number of trails in the area are closed to protect public safety. 

Aircraft flying over the Pomas Fire, 6/18/2025. https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-photos-gallery/waowf-pomas-fire-2025

Warmer temperatures and dry conditions return this weekend with the potential for critical fire weather later next week due to increased winds. With the change in weather, smoke production from the Pomas Fire will likely increase. Keep an eye on current conditions and the daily smoke forecast at the map at the top of this page, and we'll update as needed.

Pomas Fire Impacting Entiat

The Pomas Fire (currently 160 acres, about 36 miles northwest of Entiat) is causing smoke impacts in the Entiat area. Containment efforts will likely be challenging as the fire is burning in steep and rugged terrain. While the fire was first reported on June 13, it was likely caused by lightning last month and smoldered for a few weeks before warmth, winds, and dry conditions led to increased growth. 

Ecology's air sensor in Entiat is observing increasing PM2.5 concentrations this morning; the smoke plume also is contributing to moderate air quality impacts in the Methow:

Hourly PM2.5 concentrations from Ecology's air sensor in Entiat. Data accessed at 11am PDT.

Warm and dry conditions will persist in the area through at least Thursday; winds will continue to push smoke towards the Entiat area. NWS has also issued a Red Flag warning for critical fire weather conditions in Eastern Chelan County and Douglas County. High winds will both increase current fire behavior as well as cause new fires to spread quickly.

Pomas Fire on June 14, 2025. https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/waowf-pomas-fire-2025

Navigating the Smoke Blog and Understanding the NowCast AQI

As Smoke Ready Week comes to a close, we’d like to review some important information for the upcoming wildfire season. Luckily, if you’re reading this, you know where to find the Washington Smoke Blog – the state’s one-stop-shop for wildfire smoke information. 

Smoke over Mt. Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest (USFS)

Navigating the Smoke Blog

At the top of the Smoke Blog, you’ll see a map with Air Quality Index (AQI) values from monitors and sensors across the region. The colors and numerical values indicated by each sensor/monitor reflect "nearly" current air quality conditions, called the NowCast AQI (See section below for more information about the NowCast AQI). By moving the slider in the top left corner of the map, you can view an air quality forecast for the next 5 days. Smoke conditions can change quickly, so remember to check the forecast for daily updates. 

Below the map, there are several tabs. These are pages with more information about specific topics, including air monitoring, health impacts, and regional wildfire contacts. There is also a tab with information about wildfire smoke, health risks, and the AQI in Spanish (“En Español”). 

Under these tabs is the main section of the blog. The newest post will be at the top. If you have a question or comment, you can put it in the comments section of a blog post. Click “Comments” at the bottom of a post to open the comments section. 

We monitor and respond to questions and comments during business hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm. 

To the right of the blog’s main section is a column with additional links, including burn ban information, National Weather Service advisories, and archived posts. 

Smoke resources

The Smoke Blog is an excellent place to find all the resources you might need during wildfire season. We know there's lots of information out there – especially when fires and smoke get bad. Everything posted here is backed by wildfire, smoke, and health experts across several public agencies. 

In addition to the Fire and Smoke map at the top of this page, check out the Washington Air Quality Map and EPA’s AirNow. These are all reliable sources of air quality data. 

For more information about health effects, visit the Department of Health’s Smoke from Fires page. DOH also has a helpful page about portable air cleaners. 

Below is a list of a few more key resources for wildfire and smoke season: 

• EPA’s Smoke Ready Toolbox

• Watch Duty – Wildfire Maps and Alerts

• How to make your own clean air fan (video)

NowCast AQI

Wildfire smoke can cause rapid air quality deterioration. Yet different air quality reporting sites publish data at different intervals. Agency air monitors report the hourly averaged data once an hour. When smoke rolls into an area, air quality maps will not receive the data until the following hour.

State and Federal air quality maps use these data to calculate a ‘NowCast’ value, which relates current and previous hourly PM2.5 concentrations to the Air Quality Index, resulting in the color scale you see on the map. The Fire and Smoke map (shown above), Washington State Department of Ecology (AirQualityWA - SiteMap), and AirNow (airnow.gov) report the NowCast value.

Adverse health effects depend not only on the amount of smoke in the air, but the length of time a person is exposed. The NowCast value incorporates both these factors to provide a more accurate risk assessment. Visit NowCastFactSheet2D_EPA.pub for more information on NowCast AQI and how it is calculated.

In contrast, the Purple Air real-time map (https://map.purpleair.com/air-quality-standards-us-epa-aqi) provides near instantaneous air quality depending on the averaging period chosen by the user. The Purple Air data on this map are not subject to quality control and validation and therefore may not be accurate, however the Purple Air sensors, in aggregate, provide a decent snapshot of instantaneous air quality conditions.

Stay safe this summer!

Thanks for tuning in during Smoke Ready Week! Be sure to bookmark the blog and share with others for regular updates over the next few months.

Light Smoke in Eastern Washington

If you are smelling wildfire smoke in Eastern Washington Thursday morning, you are not imagining it. Light smoke concentrations are impacting the area from the Tri-Cities up north through the Okanogan Valley and east to Spokane. Most monitors are reading in the MODERATE category, with some sensors suggesting UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS around Lake Roosevelt and southern portions of the Colville Reservation. 

EPA Fire & Smoke Map as of 10:27 a.m., June 12, 2025.

A few wind-driven wildfires took off yesterday afternoon across the eastern Columbia Gorge and lower Columbia Basin. The largest of the two are the Rowena Fire near the Dalles and the Hatch Grade Fire south of Wallula, both around 2,500 acres. Crews are getting those fires under control quickly with the help of aggressive aviation tactics. 

The Rowena Fire burning near The Dalles, Oregon, on June 11, 2025. Via the Wasco County Sheriff's Office.

Smoke from these fires followed the winds to the east and northeast and has settled across eastern Washington this morning. Smoke concentrations should gradually diminish as mixing heights rise and winds increase this afternoon.

Hourly averaged PM2.5 concentration around Airway Heights, WA just west of Spokane. After rising sharply overnight, smoke concentrations are falling rapidly late this morning.

Additional smoke is possible over the next few days, but critical fire weather conditions will be easing on Friday as cooler temperatures are expected across the state. That will likely help crews further control existing fires and reduce smoke impacts accordingly. Unless new fires pop up, this morning's smoke impacts will probably be the maximum experienced through the weekend. We will continue to monitor and provide updates as needed. 

If you weren't already motivated to get yourself ready for wildfire smoke, then perhaps you are now! Stay tuned for one more blog post on Friday to wrap up #SmokeReadyWeek.   

Smoke Ready: When does smoke usually arrive in Washington?

We're in the middle of Smoke Ready week, and perhaps you might have wondered, "Why is Smoke Ready Week in mid-June?" As it turns out, there's a good reason for it. Today, we'll discuss when smoke has impacted Washington in recent years and the weather patterns that made it possible

Pictured below are tile charts from the EPA showing the maximum AQI values in two areas of the state, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue and Spokane-Spokane Valley. Each tile represents a day of the year with the years increasing from top to bottom. Months are labeled from left to right at the top.

During the winter months, it's not uncommon to see Moderate (yellow) air quality due to residential, industrial, and transportation pollution. You might also notice a spike from fireworks around Independence Day. But typically, air quality from April through June ranges from Good (green) to Moderate.

Since 2010, the earliest Unhealthy (red) air quality day due to wildfire smoke in either area was in 2014. Air quality around Spokane and much of northeast Washington deteriorated on July 19th during the early stages of what would become the Carlton Complex Fire near the Methow Valley. 

In 2020, air quality remained mostly Good throughout the summer on both sides of the state until September when a prolonged period of Very Unhealthy (purple) to Hazardous (maroon) conditions impacted the entire state. 

Perhaps the biggest outlier is 2022 when an exceptional smoke event impacted the state well into October. Perhaps the most surprising part of this event was the disparity between western and eastern Washington. The Seattle area saw a prolonged period of Unhealthy to, at times, Hazardous air quality. In comparison, eastern Washington saw only a few days of Unhealthy air. This was due to several large fires burning in the Cascades combined with a strong east wind event.

With these Unhealthy air quality events in mind, we can look to the past to see what weather patterns make smoky days more likely. First, let's look at Spokane's case using the dates of Unhealthy (or worse) wildfire smoke events. We'll omit the elevated AQI values around the Fourth of July for each of the following examples. Pictured below is how the upper-level weather pattern on those days compares to the 30-year average from 1991 to 2020. 

Notice the orange and red sitting right over Washington. This indicates above normal conditions, or an upper-level ridge of high pressure. Now, let's venture down to the ground look at Sea Level Pressure.

You can see orange and red in Montana and Wyoming indicating high pressure and blue offshore indicating low pressure. Since air flows from high to low, this would indicate Spokane tends to get smoky when a ridge is overhead and winds at the surface are out of the east-northeast. 

Analyzing Unhealthy air quality days in the Seattle area reveals a similar pattern, but there are some key differences.

On average, the upper-level ridge on Unhealthy air quality days for the Seattle area is centered just north of the state. Overall, not so different from Spokane.

The surface weather pattern, however, is more revealing. Notice for Seattle's case, the darker shade of blue hugs the coastline while, for Spokane, it's further offshore. As such, the change in pressure across the Cascades is greater. This suggests that, for widespread smoke to occur in Western Washington, a moderate to strong offshore wind event is almost always needed. This pattern in the summer typically results gusty east winds and lower relative humidity along the west slopes of the Cascades. You might hear your local meteorologist talking about a "thermal trough" during these events.

In summary, smoke season typically starts earlier east of the Cascades. The source of the smoke can vary, but most often impacts the surface when high pressure is overhead and surface winds are out of the east. In western Washington, smoke is more likely once the calendar flips to August and typically requires a stronger offshore wind and active wildfires in the Cascades.

This is why Smoke Ready Week is held in June! Typically, this gives us at least a month to gather supplies and make a plan. That way, when "thermal trough" and "upper-level ridge" enter the forecast and fire is on the landscape, you're already Smoke Ready!

It’s time to get Smoke Ready!

Now is the time to get #SmokeReady! Things are heating up in the PNW, and with the excitement of warm weather comes the threat of wildfires. Cities across the Midwest and Northeast are already suffering the effects of wildfire smoke from Canada, reminding us to prepare for a season of smoky air here in Washington.

Preparing early means less stress when the smoke hits. So, how can you make sure you’re #SmokeReady?

S – Stay Informed
M – Minimize Exposure
O – Optimize Your Air
K – Keep a Plan
E – Ease Your Mind

We’ll be posting throughout the week on #SmokeReady topics. Today, we’ll focus on smoke impacts on health and how to prepare for when smoke arrives.

Smoke and your health

Inhaling wildfire smoke is harmful to our health. Anyone who breathes in smoke may experience symptoms, though children, adults over 65, pregnant people, and people with lung or heart conditions are at higher risk. Everyone reacts to smoke differently, and smoke impacts can occur at any level of smoke. Symptoms can include:

• Irritation of eye, nose, and throat
• Coughing, sore throat, headaches
• Wheezing and shortness of breath
• Worsening of existing conditions, with symptoms like asthma attacks, chest pain, or irregular heartbeat. 

How to prepare for wildfire smoke

The best time to prepare for wildfire smoke is before it’s in the forecast. Here are some steps you can take to plan ahead:

• For people with lung and heart conditions, talk with your medical provider to make a plan.
• Plan how you will clean your indoor air.
• Consider what supplies you might need, such as N95 masks, portable air cleaners, and HVAC filters. These items are often in short supply after smoke arrives.

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 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 N95mask, limit physical exertion, and stay hydrated. 
• Local health departments and fire districts are great resources for finding wildfire and cleaner air shelters.

Wildfires and smoke events aren’t just dangerous, they’re also stressful and frightening – especially to those without a close support network. Check in on your neighbors and people in your community before and during a smoke event.

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.

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