[Article by Ryan Porter of Snoqualmie Weather]
NWS is out with an Air Quality Alert for most of Washington state through Monday at 11 am. At which point, we should finally get a better onshore push and possibly some actual rain early next week! We will also start a cooling trend Friday so those that have been leaving windows shut should get some relief from the unseasonably warm weather reaching into the low 90°‘s the last couple days.
Just as we were hoping the smoke (from E. WA) would be bugging out of here due to the shift in expected winds later today (Thursday), it will unfortunately soon be replaced from wildfire smoke from Oregon due to southerly winds:(
Relatively speaking, our current air quality is the best it’s been since before the east winds brought over smoke Monday evening. Still at levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
But save for a brief clearing out tonight, air quality looks set to worsen rather rapidly. Say a prayer for our E. WA friends, the worst of the OR smoke is set to funnel through the Columbia Gorge.
Here’s the fine particulates matter (PM 2.5) measurement, mapped forecast for the PNW.
[Originally published at Snoqualmie Weather blog During active weather follow more frequent updates @snoqualmiewx]
