‘This is the dirtiest air we’ve had to breathe as a state;’ Smoke to get worse Wednesday
This is the worst air the Tacoma-Seattle area has ever seen, and noticeable improvement is days away.
Forecasters warn that southerly winds will carry even more wildfire smoke into Western Washington on Wednesday.
An Air Quality Alert remains in effect through Thursday.
Air quality in Tacoma and Seattle remains very unhealthy to hazardous, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Wildfire season came late this year so it’s not the longest we’ve had to breathe yucky air, but it is the worst quality air to waft through the region.
The Department of Ecology looked at air quality over the last five years and found the stretch of hazardous air is unprecedented.
“Take home message: Not the longest we’ve had to endure crummy air, but this is the dirtiest air we’ve had to breathe as a state. And the season isn’t over yet,” according to the Washington Smoke Blog.
Although there are at least a dozen wildfires burning in Washington state, officials say only three are producing significant smoke.
The Big Hollow Fire near Cougar is at 22,153 acres; Inchelium Complex near the Colville Indian Reservation has burned 18,940 acres; and Cold Springs Fire near Omak has reached 188,852 acres.
Most of the wildfire smoke choking the Tacoma area is from three large fires in Northern Oregon burning a combined 500,000 acres. That smoke is also mixing with smoke from California wildfires.
“Recent wind conditions have been moving smoke from these fires to the north and right towards us,” forecasters said.
But, meteorologist Cliff Mass believes the end is in sight.
There was some minor improvement in air quality Tuesday - some of the smoke rose, and patches of blue sky were visible - but it’s expected to worsen Wednesday.
Rain showers and possible thunderstorms Thursday could further improve the air, but noticeable improvement isn’t likely before Saturday when cooler northwest winds blow in.
“This air will be far cleaner and considerably less stable,” Mass wrote on his blog. “The winds will still not be that strong, but this change should be enough to noticeably improve air quality.”
Normal air quality is possible by Tuesday or Wednesday when a stronger system moves in.
