Air quality improvement after a hazy weekend

After a weekend of hazy skies, air quality throughout the state is improving as onshore flow pushes the smoke away. Most of the region observed moderate air quality over the weekend, with a few locations experiencing a few hours of USG and Unhealthy air quality. 

Higher elevations observed smoke as it was transported aloft from Oregon and began mixing down to the surface--the air quality sensor at the Mt. Rainier Visitor Center observed increased PM2.5 concentrations starting last Thursday. 

Monitoring sites in Vancouver recorded elevated PM2.5 concentrations on Thursday and Friday before conditions improved on Sunday.

Smoke from fires in Central Idaho impacted Southeast Washington over the weekend, and air quality is currently unhealthy in Clarkston. Smoke should decrease throughout the day today.

Outlook: Smoke will continue to move out of the region today. However, dry and windy conditions through this evening can lead to rapid fire spread. Please continue to be cautious with any potential fire sources. There are a couple fires to note--the ~100 acre Swauk Creek Fire 13 miles NE of Cle Elum began late yesterday afternoon and the Huckleberry Ridge Fire south of Pe Ell is now estimated at 293 acres. While there may be occasional localized smoke impacts, we don't expect substantial smoke production from these fires.

This week brings cooler temperatures and the potential for light precipitation across the state. Barring any additional fire starts, air quality should continue to improve. Enjoy the cooler temperatures and improved air quality!

Friday Smoke Snapshot and Updated Weekend Outlook

Friday Smoke Snapshot 

As expected, smoke is currently blanketing much of the state mostly due to wildfires in Oregon producing large plumes that have drifted north. In Washington, the Williams Mine Fire has also been more active in the past few days which has contributed to local smoke impacts. The Huckleberry Ridge Fire, burning in southwest Lewis County, began on September 4th. So far, it has burned 100 acres and is also contributing to localized smoke impacts. Additionally, the Whiskey Creek Fire on the Oregon side of the Columbia River in the gorge has seen increased activity with a smoke plume visible Friday afternoon.

Wildfire smoke over Washington as seen from the GOES-West satellite Friday afternoon.

Air Quality Advisories remain in place for the following counties: Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania, and Wahkiakum, until Saturday morning. 
To learn more or find out if there’s an Air Quality Advisory in place for your location, check with your local clean air agency. Air Quality Advisories may be put in place, removed, or extended at any time.  
For Air Quality Advisories on Reservations in Washington, visit: https://www.epa.gov/farr/burn-bans-indian-reservations-id-or-and-wa

A closer look at some of the monitors in the state: 
 
As smoke moved north and west from Idaho and Oregon, Seattle saw a shift from Good to Moderate conditions Thursday continuing through Friday.    

 

Vancouver was closer to the sources of smoke and saw higher impacts with levels reaching Unhealthy at its peak before slowly improving back to Moderate levels late Friday morning.

As smoke made its way north and settled in at lower elevations, Enumclaw and other locations within the Cascade foothills saw levels reaching Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

Weekend Outlook 

With hot and dry weather remaining in place, active fire behavior is expected the next few days. Except at the immediate coast, winds in the low levels will remain out of the east-southeast with south-southeast flow aloft. This will continue to transport smoke aloft into Washington through Sunday morning.

For Saturday in western Washington, air quality concerns continue with scattered pockets of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups expected. Areas of greatest concern will be the western Columbia Gorge into the Vancouver metro area as well as the foothills of the central and southern Washington Cascades. Depending on smoke output from the region’s large fires, isolated instances of Unhealthy air quality are possible. East of the Cascades, air quality is expected to range from Good to Moderate. 

Eventually, westerly winds will push cleaner air onshore. This will be a gradual process, and widespread Moderate air quality will likely persist into Sunday night or early Monday for western Washington. Smoke impacts may worsen east of the Cascades Sunday through Monday morning with some locations seeing AQI rise into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range, mainly across southern Washington. Northern Washington should remain Good to Moderate. Eventually, air quality is expected to improve statewide Monday afternoon into Tuesday.

We are still expecting isolated thunderstorms to develop over the Cascades this weekend. Any new lightning-induced starts may bring new local air quality issues. 

Smoke Update and Outlook

Smoke Situation  

While things have been relatively quiet on fires in Washington, recent warmer and drier weather has increased fire activity and smoke production around fires in Oregon and Idaho.