Seattle smoke forecast: Air quality to worsen this weekend
After a short while, the smoky air is returning to the Puget Sound region.
SEATTLE – Wildfire smoke expected to worsen Air quality across western Washington starting Thursday and getting worse this weekend.
According to KING 5 meteorologist Christopher Nunley, winds are expected to shift to the northeast, bringing smoke from the wildfires burning in British Columbia and the North Cascades.
Air quality is expected to be moderate for most of the Puget Sound area on Thursday and may drop to unhealthy levels for sensitive groups in Whatcom and Skagit counties east. .
It’s not clear how bad the air quality could get over the weekend, but is expected to continue to worsen Friday through Sunday. The northwest region is expected to be hardest hit by the smoke as it is closest to the bushfires.
An area of low pressure hovering off the Pacific coast could affect the severity of wildfire smoke this weekend. Depending on how much of a push westward Washington is on the shore, the smoke may not be as thick as Sunday when Seattle’s air quality was among the worst in the world.
If any new wildfires hit over the weekend in Washington, that could affect air quality as well. Nunley said the possibility of minor thunderstorms in the Cascades on Friday would increase the fire risk.
ONE Red flag warning in effect from 11 a.m. Thursday to 5 p.m. Friday for the western slopes of the Central Cascades at elevations above 1,500 feet. This warning may be extended or extended depending on the condition.
Smoke relief is expected to arrive early next week. Onshore currents increased on Monday, bringing in cleaner air. Residual smoke is expected to come out on Tuesday as cooler temperatures and wet conditions kick in.
