9-22-12 2200 Ecology Monitoring/Weather Update

 

Washington Department of Ecology news

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sept. 22, 2012

12-318

 

Wenatchee still showing ‘hazardous’ air quality

 

OLYMPIA – Air quality remains in the “hazardous” category in the Wenatchee and nearby communities such as Cashmere and Pateros, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).

 

However, some areas along the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains did see some improvement in air quality overnight. Leavenworth, Yakima (both “unhealthy”), Ellensburg (“moderate”) and Cle Elum (“good”) saw some clearing overnight. But winds did push some smoke into the Methow Valley overnight, leading to “unhealthy” conditions.

 

A red flag warning remains in effect because of the threat of thunderstorms and lightning today (Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012). “The weather system should also help stir things up a bit and lead to a small improvement in air quality in these areas, but we certainly hope it won’t spark more wildfires,” said Ecology forecaster Ranil Dhammapala.

 

Air quality in the Columbia Basin and Spokane has shown some marginal improvement over the last day to the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category. Air in these areas should improve slightly over the weekend. Pullman and Clarkston were impacted Friday by smoke from Idaho wildfires; air quality this morning was in the “unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” categories, respectively, in those communities. However, some clearing is possible today because smoke from Idaho is expected to be less of a problem.

 

Some cooler temperatures are on tap for Eastern Washington next week, which could help reduce fire activity.

 

All residents in the Wenatchee area should stay indoors and curtail their physical activities both indoors and outside. Doors and windows should remain closed. In the remainder of the Yakima and Columbia Basin common sense precautions should be taken by everyone, but sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly and heart patients, are particularly vulnerable.

 

The biggest health threat comes from the fine particles in smoke. These can cause burning eyes, runny nose, bronchitis and other illnesses. Smoky air also can aggravate heart and lung diseases, and even lead to death.

 

You can find news and information about smoke and wildfires from a variety of state, local and federal agencies on a new blog.

 

Central Washington University is providing information for students and their families online.

 

The Washington State Department of Health has provided more than 20,000 respirators to the health districts in Kittitas, Chelan and Douglas counties. A document with answers to frequently asked questions about wildfire smoke also is available.

 

The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for much of eastern Washington.

 

Gov. Gregoire has issued a burn ban in Eastern Washington, which is in effect until midnight Monday.

 

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Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-584-5744 cell; seth.preston@ecy.wa.gov

 

Joint blog on wildfire smoke and related information: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com

 

Check for air quality monitoring information: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/air_monitoring_data/WAQA_Intro_Page.html

 

Washington Department of Health smoke information: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom.aspx

 

Washington State Department of Health news release: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/2012NewsReleases/12143WildfireRespirators.aspx

 

Frequently asked questions about wildfire smoke: http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/OutdoorAir/SmokeFromFires/FrequentlyaskedQuestionsaboutWildfireSmoke.aspx

 

Central Washington University information: http://www.cwu.edu/table-mountain-fire

 

Read the Governor’s emergency declaration: http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1967&newsType=1

 

National Weather Service Air Quality Alert: http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20quality%20alert

 

Ecology’s website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov

Ecology’s social media: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/about/newmedia.html

 

 

 

9-22-12 2000 Wildfire Smoke Forecast

 

9/22/12 Wildfire Smoke Forecast 0800 pst

 

Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) Chart:

https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/App_AQI/AQI.en-US.pdf

 

Ecology Air Quality Monitoring Network Map: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.ltr.aspx

  -note, click on the dots and you can then click on View more information to find out the latest hourly values even if the dot is grey

              

Central Region, Ecology Air Quality Report                  Chelan County monitor locations: Wenatchee- “Hazardous” Leavenworth- “Very Unhealthy” Chelan- “Unhealthy”                Okanogan County monitor locations: Omak - “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Winthrop – “Unhealthy” Twisp-  “Unhealthy”                  Kittitas County monitor location: Ellensburg- “Moderate” Yakima County monitor location: Yakima- “Unhealthy” White Swan- “Unhealthy” Toppenish- “Very Unhealthy” Naches- “Unhealthy”                Klickitat County monitor location: Goldendale- “Good”     Eastern Region, Ecology Air Quality Report   Blue Mountain Area Clarkston  -  “ Very Unhealthy” Dayton  -   “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Walla Walla  -  “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Palouse Pullman  - “Unhealthy” Rosalia  - “Moderate” LaCrosse  -  “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Columbia Basin Kennewick  -  “Moderate” Mesa  - “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Moses Lake  - “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Ritzville  - “Moderate”

USDA FOREST SERVICE Air Quality Report            Chelan County monitor location: Wenatchee- (Confluence Park)- “Hazardous” Cashmere- “Hazardous” Entiat- “Hazardous” Okanogan County* (new) Pateros- “Hazardous            Grant County monitor location: Quincy- “Very Unhealthy”             Kittitas County monitor location: Cle Elum- “Good”                     Eastern Region, Ecology Air Quality Report                            Spokane Area Spokane “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Liberty Lake- “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups   Northeast Colville  -  “Good” Wellpinit  -  “Good”

 

Another very useful webpage for grab hourly and 24 hour data, Puget Sound Clean Air and their air quality tool:

http://airgraphing.pscleanair.org/

 

Air Quality forecast, 8AM Saturday 22 September 2012
Issued by Ranil Dhammapala, Washington State Dept. of Ecology

The areas at the eastern foothills of the Cascades did see some improvement in air quality overnight, but areas like Wenatchee, Cashmere and Pateros still remain in the Hazardous category. Leavenworth, Yakima (both Unhealthy), Ellensburg (Moderate) and Cle Elum (Good) saw some clearing overnight.
There is still a red flag warning for small threat of thunderstorm activity in some of these areas during the day today. While this weather system should also help stir things up a bit and lead to a small improvement in air quality in these areas, we need to keep praying that it won’t spark off more wildfires.

Air quality in the Columbia Basin and Spokane has shown some marginal improvement over the last day, and are in the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category. Air in these areas should improve slightly over the weekend. Pullman and Clarkston were impacted by Idaho wildfire smoke yesterday, and are currently in the "Unhealthy" and "Very Unhealthy" categories, respectively. There should be no more impacts from Idahoan smoke for now, so with some daytime clearing and a small possibility of showers on Sunday, they should see some clearing.

Western WA stayed quite clear and no air quality issues are expected over the weekend.

Some cooler temperatures are on tap for eastern WA next week and this should help reduce fire activity and lead to an improvement in air quality.

The National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert for much of eastern Washington:
http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20quality%20alert

The Governor has issued an emergency proclamation for all of eastern Washington:
http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1967&newsType=1

Thanks

 

 

 

 

9/21/12 Air Quality Alert & Burn Ban Stage 2 Extended

PRESS RELEASE for Immediate Release: September 21, 2012

DATE:            Friday, September 21, 2012

TIME:             10:00 a.m. PST

TO:                 Media and Reporting Fire Districts

FROM:           Hasan M. Tahat, Ph.D., Engineering and Planning Division Supervisor, YRCAA

SUBJECT:     YAKIMA COUNTY – AIR QUALITY ALERT and BURN BAN STAGE 2 EXTENDED UNTIL MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2012. 

YAKIMA- Smoky skies- Due to wildfires...the air quality remains unhealthy in Yakima County.  An Air Quality Alert has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) to continue through noon Monday September 24, 2012. This alert includes all Yakima County. The Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency (YRCAA)- Air Pollution Control Officer Gary Pruitt has determined that the current stage 2 burn bans will remain in effect through Wednesday September 26, 2012.  YRCAA will continue monitoring the air quality through the weekend and reevaluate the alert status and the burn ban Monday morning.

The air quality remains generally unhealthy and unhealthy for sensitive people. It is expected to remain that way through Wednesday.  Yakima County residents should use common sense precautions, but sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly and heart patients, are particularly vulnerable.

The biggest health threat comes from the fine particles in smoke. These can cause burning eyes, runny nose, bronchitis and other illnesses. Smoky air also can aggravate pre-existing heart and lung diseases, and even lead to death.

The burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including but not limited to:
• Campfires.
• Bonfires.
• Residential yard debris clean-up, trash disposal, land clearing, weed abatement and agricultural burning activity
• Ignition of any fireworks.

What can one do?

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and be informed:

     

-  The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive    to air pollution limit the time that they spend outdoors when smoke is in the air.

     

            -  Children also are more susceptible to smoke because:

               * Their respiratory systems are still developing.

               * They breathe more air (and air pollution) per pound of body weight than adults.

               * They're more likely to be active outdoors.

     

            - Pay attention to air quality reports. The Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) is the tool that the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) uses to inform people about the health effects of air pollution. WAQA includes information about ground-level ozone, fine particles and carbon monoxide. WAQA is very similar to the EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI). Both use color-coded categories to show when air quality is good, moderate or unhealthy. The difference is that WAQA shows that air quality is unhealthy when there are fewer particles in the air.

      

            -  Use common sense. WAQA and AQI may not have immediate information on conditions in your specific area. If it looks and smells smoky outside, it's probably not a good time to go for a jog, mow the lawn or allow children to play outdoors.

      

            -  If you have asthma or other lung disease, follow your doctor's directions on taking medicines and following your asthma management plan. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.

      

            -  If you have heart or lung disease, if you are an older adult, or if you have children, talk with your doctor about whether and when you should leave the area. When smoke is heavy for a prolonged period of time, fine particles can build up indoors even though you may not see them.

      

            -  Turn air-conditioning units to "recycle" mode so they don't draw in outside air.

     

            -  Don't think that paper "comfort" or "dust masks" are the answer. The kinds of masks that you commonly can buy at the hardware store are designed to trap large particles, such as sawdust. But they generally will not protect your lungs from the fine particles in smoke.

In addition, the following websites are helpful in getting additional information:

Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency (YRCAA): http://www.yakimacleanair.org

Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA): https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.ltr.aspx

Washington State Department of Health: http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/OutdoorAir/SmokeFromFires.aspx

Washington Smoke Information: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com

National Weather Service:  http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/

Air now: http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&zipcode=98901&submit=Go

• Please Note:  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Reservation.  The Yakama Nation is addressing air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there, please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

Thank you for your cooperation.

Hasan Tahat, Ph.D.

Engineering and Planning Division Supervisor

Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency

9/21/12 Ecology News Release - Wildfire smoke continues to plague stressed communities

Washington Department of Ecology news

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Sept. 21, 2012

12-315

    

            Wildfire smoke continues to plague stressed communities

      OLYMPIA - The weekend weather forecast offers little relief for many smoke-blanketed communities in Eastern Washington, especially those along the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).

      "Air quality in the Wenatchee area has remained in the 'hazardous' category for over a week now, with each day being a little worse than the previous. Cashmere and Entiat are in a similar situation. Leavenworth, Ellensburg, the upper and lower Yakima Valley and Chelan have been recording 'very unhealthy' conditions. This scenario is not expected to change much over the next few days," said Ecology forecaster Ranil Dhammapala.

     

      A low-pressure system tonight through Saturday evening carries the threat of dry lightning in the Washington Cascades mostly south of Lake Chelan, which could spark new fires, said Dhammapala.

     

      Air quality in the Columbia Basin and the Palouse/Spokane region has been deteriorating very gradually over the last few days and is mostly in the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" category this morning. Air in these areas may improve slightly, but not much, Saturday evening through Sunday evening.

     

      Some cooler temperatures are on tap for Eastern Washington next week, which could help reduce fire activity. But the forecast does not call for the kind of soaking rain needed to make a significant impact.

     

      The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert (http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20quality%20alert) for much of eastern Washington.

      

      Gov. Gregoire has issued a burn ban in Eastern Washington, which is in effect until midnight Monday (http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1967&newsType=1).

     

      All residents in the Wenatchee area should stay indoors and curtail their physical activities both indoors and outside. Doors and windows should remain closed. In the remainder of the Yakima and Columbia Basin common sense precautions should be taken by everyone, but sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly and heart patients, are particularly vulnerable.

     

      The biggest health threat comes from the fine particles in smoke. These can cause burning eyes, runny nose, bronchitis and other illnesses. Smoky air also can aggravate heart and lung diseases, and even lead to death.

     

      You can find news and information about smoke and wildfires from a variety of state, local and federal agencies on this blog: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/.

     

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Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-407-6848; 360-584-5744 cell; seth.preston@ecy.wa.gov

Check for air quality monitoring information: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/air_monitoring_data/WAQA_Intro_Page.html

Read the Governor's emergency declaration: http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1967&newsType=1

National Weather Service Air Quality Alert: http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20quality%20alert

Joint blog on wildfire smoke and related information: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com

Ecology's website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov

Ecology's social media: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/about/newmedia.html

9/21/12 Wildfire Smoke Forecast

Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) Chart:

https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/App_AQI/AQI.en-US.pdf

Ecology Air Quality Monitoring Network Map: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.ltr.aspx

  -note, click on the dots and you can then click on View more information to find out the latest hourly values even if the dot is gray

              

Central Region, Ecology Air Quality Report                               Chelan County monitor locations: Wenatchee- “Hazardous” Leavenworth- “Very Unhealthy” Chelan- “Unhealthy”                Okanogan County monitor locations: Omak - “Moderate” Winthrop – “Unhealthy” Twisp-  “Unhealthy”                Kittitas County monitor location: Ellensburg- “Very Unhealthy”                Klickitat County monitor location: Goldendale- “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Eastern Region, Ecology Air Quality Report Blue Mountain Area Clarkston  -  “Unhealthy” Dayton  -   “Moderate” Walla Walla  -  “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Palouse/Spokane Area Pullman  - “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Rosalia  - “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” LaCrosse  -  “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Spokane  -  “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Deer Park  -  monitor down Northeast Colville  -  “Good” Wellpinit  -  “Moderate” Columbia Basin Kennewick  -  “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Mesa  - “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Moses Lake  - “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Ritzville  - “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”

USDA FOREST SERVICE Air Quality Report            Chelan County monitor location: Wenatchee (Confluence Park)- “Hazardous” Cashmere- “Hazardous” Entiat: “Hazardous”            Grant County monitor location: Quincy- “Unhealthy”                      Kittitas County monitor location: Cle Elum- “Unhealthy”

Another very useful webpage for grab hourly and 24 hour data, Puget Sound Clean Air and their air quality tool:

http://airgraphing.pscleanair.org/

Remember the Eastern Washington Burn Ban remains effective through Monday, September, 24, 2012 .

Air Quality forecast, 8AM Friday 21 September 2012
Issued by Ranil Dhammapala, Washington State Dept. of Ecology

Western WA has cleared out well under the stronger marine push and will stay that way today. Air quality in the Columbia Basin and the Palouse/ Spokane has been deteriorating very gradually over the last few days and is mostly in the "Unhealthy for sensitive groups" category this morning. Air in these areas may improve slightly but not hugely, Saturday evening through Sunday evening.

The areas of serious concern- located at the eastern foothills of the Cascades- continue to remain problematic. Air in Wenatchee has remained in the "Hazardous" category for several days now, with each day being a little worse than the previous. Cashmere and Entiat are in a similar situation, while Leavenworth, Ellensburg, the upper and lower Yakima Valley and Chelan have been recording Very Unhealthy conditions. This scenario is not expected to change much over the next few days.

The approach and passage of a low pressure system Friday night through Saturday evening gives rise to a small threat of dry lightning in the Washington Cascades mostly south of Lake Chelan. Given the dry fuels in the area, we can only pray that there won’t be new fires for the already stretched firefighters to contend with.

Some cooler temperatures are on tap for eastern WA next week and this should help reduce fire activity, but the kind of soaking rain needed is a notable absentee from the forecast.

The National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert for much of eastern Washington:
http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20quality%20alert

Spanish WAQA

9/20/12 Smoke spreads across Eastern Washington with little relief in sight

      Smoke spreads across Eastern Washington with little relief in sight

            YAKIMA - Smoke is filling up the low-lying areas of Eastern Washington with weather patterns keeping a lid on most of the region with no relief in sight, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).

            "Unfortunately, areas around Wenatchee remain in the worst shape," said Sean Hopkins, Ecology air quality specialist in Yakima. "At the same time, other areas are experiencing unhealthy air anywhere smoke lingers from the hundreds of wildfires that are burning."

            Specifically, Ecology and Forest Service air-quality monitors in Chelan County are reading in the hazardous and unhealthy ranges. Poorer conditions are trending in the Quincy area and conditions could worsen around Spokane, Pullman and Clarkston.

            Monitor measurements in Ellensburg are in the unhealthy range, but is trending better than earlier hazardous readings. Cle Elum readings by the Forest Service are moderate, showing some improvement.

      All residents in the Wenatchee area should stay indoors and curtail their physical activities both indoors and out. Doors and windows should remain closed. In the remainder of the Yakima and Columbia basins common sense precautions should be taken by everyone, but sensitive groups -- such as children, the elderly and heart patients -- are particularly vulnerable.

     

      The biggest health threat comes from the fine particles in smoke. These can cause burning eyes, runny nose, bronchitis and other illnesses. Smoky air also can aggravate pre-existing heart and lung diseases, and even lead to death.

     

      Follow air quality online at the Washington Department of Ecology wildfire/smoke Web page:  Go to Ecology's home page at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/ and click on "Wildfire smoke updates" on the right side under "Spotlight."

      

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Media Contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, Communications Manager, 509-575-2610; joye.redfield-wilder@ecy.wa.gov

Ecology's website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov

Ecology's social media: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/about/newmedia.html

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9/19/12 Air quality in Wenatchee remains hazardous

Washington Department of Ecology news

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sept. 19, 2012

12-310

                Air quality in Wenatchee remains hazardous

      SPOKANE   Smoke from wildfires continues to create hazardous air conditions in the Wenatchee area today for the eighth day in a row. Residents along the east side of the Cascades from Yakima northward through the Methow Valley to Omak continue bracing against the onslaught of smoke. 

      Ellensburg experienced some clearing Tuesday, but it was short-lived and the area filled in with smoke overnight. Ellensburg was the only part of the east Cascades region to get a slight reprieve Tuesday.

      All residents in the Wenatchee area should stay indoors and limit their physical activities. Doors and windows should remain closed.

      Aside from the very northern counties in Eastern Washington north of Highway 2, the smoke will continue today with little daytime clearing. Conditions are not expected to improve significantly in the next several days.

      In far Eastern Washington, most areas have “good” to “moderate” air quality today, but Moses Lake has seen some excursions into the “unhealthy for sensitive populations” zone, according to Air Quality Advisory categories (https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/publications/0802022.pdf). Sensitive populations are young children, older adults and people with breathing problems such as asthma. 

      The National Weather Service continues an air stagnation advisory for the eastern foothills of the Cascades and for the Clarkston area of Whitman County (http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20stagnation%20advisory).

      The Wenatchee Complex Fire pushed air quality into the hazardous zone for the first time since the state began monitoring small particle pollution including smoke. The smoke hazard recorded at Wenatchee has been about three times higher than any other readings recorded by Washington state monitors since the 1980s.

      In 2006, a wildfire known as the Tripod Complex Fire burned for about two months in the Methow Valley, causing what was then the highest concentrations of small particle pollution ever measured in Washington.

      Follow air quality online at the Washington Department of Ecology wildfire/smoke Web page:  Go to Ecology’s home page at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/  and click on “Wildfire smoke updates” on the right side under “Spotlight.”  The direct link is:  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/air_monitoring_data/WAQA_Intro_Page.html.

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Media Contacts:

Jani Gilbert, Communications, 509-329-3495; cell, 509-990-9177; jani.gilbert@ecy.wa.gov.

Ecology’s website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov

Ecology’s social media: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/about/newmedia.html

9/19/12 Health Information for Parents/Community Members

These documents contain information on how wildfire smoke affects children, both during and after the fires.

Information on Health Risks of Wildfires for Children: Acute Phase

http://aoec.org/pehsu/documents/wildfire_acute_2011_parents_comm.pdf

Information on Health Risks of Wildfires for Children – Aftermath

http://aoec.org/pehsu/documents/wildfire_aftermath_2011_parents_comm.pdf

Department of Ecology News Release - September 18, 2012
12-308

Air quality in Ellensburg, Wenatchee remains unhealthy

YAKIMA – Air quality in Ellensburg has reached hazardous levels as a result of smoke from north and central Washington fires.
Wenatchee air quality has been hazardous since Sept. 12, according to data gathered by the Washington Department of Ecology.
All residents in both Wenatchee and Ellensburg should stay indoors and limit their physical activities. Doors and windows should remain closed.
Weak winds and stagnant conditions will continue in the eastern foothills of the Cascades, causing impaired air quality over the next several days. Exceptions are northern Okanogan County and Klickitat County.
Elsewhere in Eastern Washington, air quality remained mostly in the "good" category, though a few areas recorded "moderate" air quality.
The National Weather Service has an Air Stagnation Advisory in effect for the eastern foothills of the Cascades and the Lewis-Clark Valley.
Follow air quality online at the Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA): website.
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Media Contacts:
Joye Redfield-Wilder, Communications Manager, 509-575-2610; cell, 509-961-6277; joye.redfield-wilder@ecy.wa.gov
Jani Gilbert, Communications, 509-329-3495; cell, 509-990-9177; jani.gilbert@ecy.wa.gov.
For more information:
Air Stagnation Advisory in effect for the eastern foothills of the Cascades and the Lewis-Clark Valley (http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=air%20stagnation%20advisory)
Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA): website (https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.ltr.aspx)
ECOconnect blog - Wildfire smoke updates (http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/search/label/Air%20Time)
Ecology’s social media (www.ecy.wa.gov/about/newmedia.html)