Tag Archives: smoke

‘Unhealthy for sensitive groups’: First push of Seattle’s 2026 smoke season should only last a few days — UPDATE

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See latest updates at airnow.gov

A hopefully short bout of heavily hazy skies will mark the start of this summer’s smoke season in Seattle this week with forecasts for unhealthy air quality Monday and Tuesday.

Several large, uncontained wildfires in remote central British Columbia and ongoing active fires in North-Central Washington and along the Cascades are contributing to the smoke now stacking up here as northerly weather patterns take hold.

The National Weather Service says increasing low level onshore flow at the end of the week will bring cooler temperatures and less smoke.

Our cousins on the east side of the state are having a much rougher go. A series of fast-moving wildfires have swept through the Spokane area, driving what officials describe as the worst natural disaster in the region’s history. Fueled by high temperatures and strong wind gusts, the blazes have reportedly already destroyed more than 600 homes and businesses, and forced approximately 60,000 residents to evacuate.

2025 brought a relatively moderate smoke season to Seattle that didn’t arrive until late September. Continue reading →

Hazy forecasts headed into weekend in so far mild summer for Seattle smoke

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Expect a hazy Thursday with possible less healthy conditions around the city into the weekend as the 2024 Seattle smoke season has so far been mostly a mild affair.

Forecasters with the Washington Smoke Information effort say we can expect increasingly hazy conditions across Seattle into Thursday as smoke from four large wildfires to our east pours into the Puget Sound:

The westerly winds that have been blowing smoke away from Western Washington are expected to change course later this week.  Winds blowing from east to west will likely bring smoke into the region.  The four main fires that may contribute are:

  • The Shetland Creek fire – located 100 miles north of the US-Canada border in British Columbia, currently 67,000 acres
  • The Calcite Creek fire – located on the Canadian side of the Okanogan National Forest, currently 10,000 acres
  • The Pioneer fire – Lake Chelan, currently 35,000 acres
  • The Retreat fire – Yakima, currently 41,000 acres

Wildfire smoke could arrive in Western Washington Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

Seattle has thus far been spared long periods of high scores on the Air Quality Index but the eastern parts of the state including areas around Yakima and Spokane have been socked in with wildfire smoke in recent weeks.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and officials with the state smoke monitoring effort say conditions around Western Washington could create an oscillating pattern “where smoke comes into the region overnight then clears out somewhat during the day” possibly overnight Wednesday and Thursday night into Friday morning as well. Continue reading →

2023 smoke season returns with weekend forecast of ‘unhealthy’ air over Seattle — Plus, Hurricane Hilary’s ‘cone of uncertainty’

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The 2023 Seattle smoke season has come in fits and starts with preparations starting with a bout in early July as wildfire — and 4th of July fireworks — added to the haze. This weekend, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says the skies above Seattle could again reach “unhealthy” smoke levels by Sunday

Winds are likely to shift overnight Friday and into Saturday AM. Wildfire smoke is likely to reach Snohomish County Saturday morning, with smoke continuing to move south throughout the day. Concentrations could reach MODERATE to UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS through most of the Puget Sound on Sat with worsening smoke on Sun that could UNHEALTHY or worse at times.

“Limit your exposure outside and use air purifiers, if available,” the agency advises.

The National Weather Service is currently predicting “areas of smoke” through Sunday night with clearing beginning Monday as winds shift. One thing you probably won’t have to worry about is Hurricane Hilary as it degrades and passes over Southern California dumping years’ worth of rain. Some forecasts show the “cone of uncertainty” and impacts from the storm reaching into Washington in the form of gusty winds. Continue reading →

Time to prepare for 2023 Seattle smoke season

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Canadian wildfires will burn through the summer — this week, the winds could bring smoke to Seattle — You can view this fire and smoke map at ospo.noaa.gov

This summer began with the East Coast getting a taste of smoke season. Forecasters say the Pacific Northwest might also soon experience the haze and smoke from wildfire burning across Canada — mixed with smoke from new wildfires in Washington and lingering from Tuesday’s 4th of July celebrations.

Wildfires burning in Alberta and British Columbia and shifting weather conditions that are expected to bring winds from the north could lead to “smoke impacts in Washington this week. Continue reading →

What does Seattle need for coming smoky summers? Clean air shelters, new rules to protect workers, and patience

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Seattle at its smokiest Wednesday

What should we do about coming smoky summers? Ask a firefighter (Image: Amanda Monthei)

“Should Washington fight the Bolt Creek Fire to protect Seattle’s air?,” CHS asked seven days ago as we reported on the factors being considered by the Washington Department of Natural Resources in its command of the state’s firefighting resources. Those factors include communities, homes, and highways — but not air quality.

Now, after more smoke from newly surging incidents like the Loch Katrine fire poured into the region and pushed Seattle to some of the most dangerous air on earth this week, raindrops are finally starting to fall on Capitol Hill.

It is the right time to start getting ready for next summer — and the smoky summers that will follow.

A wildland firefighter who just came off the Bolt Creek Fire working as a Public Information Officer, Amanda Monthei has seven years experience with wildfires and says cities like Seattle need to prepare with new resources and clean air shelters in a new smokier future — fires on some of the nearest mountains and in wildlands only minutes away need the flames. Continue reading →

‘Haze’ — 2022 Seattle smoke season is here (for the weekend?)

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Mount Rainier is not erupting but Seattle skies will be darkened this weekend as a late smoke season arrives over the city.

Forecasted winds from the northeast of the state are predicted to continue to carry smoke from area wildfires over Seattle and the Puget Sound. Friday’s morning sky already had a haze though air quality readings remained at healthy levels. Saturday’s layer is predicted to bring a much smokier day along with temperatures pushing 90 F. Continue reading →

After longest stretch of unhealthy air we’ve seen in recent smoke seasons, Seattle forecast calls for Saturday relief

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Though the “super massive” smoke plume that covered the Pacific Northwest withstood the last bout of weather and kept Seattle socked in, forecasters say cleaner air is finally on the way after a run of unhealthy skies unlike anything we’ve seen in recent smoke seasons.

The state’s Washington Smoke Blog says the Seattle region should see significant clearing beginning early Saturday:

Encouraging reductions at Olympic Peninsula monitors today and smaller improvements since yesterday in the Puget Sound lowlands. But strong winds off the Pacific are MIA so we have take what the lighter, shifty winds with a little rain (minions!) dish out. These minions are bringing disorganized, mixed results. Some smoke from Oregon fires are now being transported to western WA due to a wind shift, and even though a lot of that smoke is still aloft, it delays the already slow scrubbing process. Expecting Good to Moderate air in much of western WA by Saturday.

In the meantime, Seattle’s air quality measures have improved to “unhealthy” levels Thursday with hoped for start of clearing Friday bringing further improvement. Continue reading →

2020 Seattle smoke season arrives as Washington, Oregon, and California burn — UPDATE: ‘Smoke Alert!’

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GOES imagery from Wednesday morning shows smoke moving northward

Unhealthy levels of wildfire smoke and ash that arrived in Seattle following the Labor Day holiday will likely persist and — possibly — increase in the skies above the city into Friday, forecasters say.

Seattle’s air quality Wednesday was considered “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” according to official guidelines and authorities continue to encourage people to stay inside and limit exposure. Continue reading →