Parts of Washington experience worst air quality in the world, NWS says

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Last edited Fri Sep 9, 2022, 07:59 PM - Edit history (1)

As of Thursday night, parts of Washington state have some of the worst air quality in the entire world. Chelan, Wenatchee and the Methow Valley reached hazardous criteria due to wildfire smoke in the region. Multiple large wildfires north of region are the primary source of the smoke.

A breezy northerly wind funneled smoke from the Parks Fire burning along the United States and Canadian borders in the Cascades into the western Columbia Basin. The smoke was thick enough that the air quality index climbed to levels not currently able to be registered. The AQI of more than 500 means every person should stay indoors and limit exposure to unfiltered air.



An AQI above 100 typically means those sensitive to drops in air quality should limit time outdoors. Above 200, all people should limit exposure and above 300, the air becomes dangerous to breathe for everyone.

Link to tweet

With an atmospheric trough building to the east, relief isn’t expected to make it in until Friday. Wind is expected to shift form northerly to easterly Friday afternoon and evening, helping to push the smoke into then over the Cascades. The timing of the pattern change means clean air likely won’t arrive until Saturday morning. With the easterly flow lasting through Saturday and calmer conditions on Sunday, air quality should improve through the weekend.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/parts-of-washington-experience-worst-air-quality-in-the-world-nws-says/ar-AA11Daot

Red flag warning: Poor air quality expected as wildfire smoke arrives in Puget Sound

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued red flag warnings Friday stretching into this weekend, saying the warm weather adds significant risk to already-burning wildfires.

The alert includes the east and central Cascades, Olympics and most lowland areas of western Washington.

In 2020, 14 large wildfires filled the Washington sky with severe smoke so bad the Seattle skyline was barely visible. Gov. Jay Inslee issued a proclamation to provide cash to families impacted across the state.

If air conditions take a turn for the worst this weekend, the best options are to stay inside and close all windows and doors.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/red-flag-warning-poor-air-quality-expected-as-wildfire-smoke-arrives-in-puget-sound/ar-AA11Ed7b

[jimfields33]

1. This is terrible. Washington Citizens are dealing with this? What are leaders doing about it?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. Not much they can do till the fires die down

[uppityperson]

2. Yup, smoke's coming to the rest off us too

[2naSalit]

3. Up until about 36 hours ago...

We, in much of Montana, have been spared really bad smoke, we have a noticeable amount but it's not as dense as we were getting the southern fires' smoke. But the wind shifted to NW origin and we have been getting waves of that heavy plume between blasts from elsewhere as the fronts merge.

Yesterday I had to get up at 2am to close the windows because of the sudden heavy smoke filling my room. It's been windy the whole time too. We went from +101F to +50F in about three hours. Yesterday's high was +62F and we're expecting frost tonight.

But we'll still have a lot of smoke. I should be thankful, the smoke season didn't really get rolling until September. Often times it begins in May and goes until October.

I really feel for those in Oregon and Washington, they
re both in it, Idaho and Montana have a good amount as well.