Smoke from Northwest wildfires was forecast to move into western Washington and Oregon, and the air quality map Washington points to unhealthy conditions in Portland and Seattle. The smoky air was expected to reach the Interstate 5 corridor through at least Wednesday.
The forecast also covered Tacoma, Olympia, Salem, Corvallis and Eugene, with ground smoke expected to continue in Boise. Farther south, smoke could flow as far as Salt Lake City.
Interstate 5 Corridor Smoke
Offshore winds were expected to blow from the east or northeast over the next couple of days, carrying the smoke westward. Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia were expected to stay smoky through at least Wednesday, while Oregon's Willamette Valley faced the same timeline.
That valley included Portland, Salem, Corvallis and Eugene. The smoke was expected to turn eastward on Thursday as regular west-to-east winds returned, and the smoke layer was expected to thin out then.
Northwest Fires In Oregon And Washington
The smoke was tied to multiple large fires burning across the eastern two-thirds of Oregon and Washington. Three large fires were burning in the Spokane, Washington, metro area and had destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses, while thirty large fires were burning in central and eastern Oregon.
Other large fires were burning in Idaho, Montana and Utah, adding to the smoke pushing across the region. The same pattern was also expected to send smoke across the Rockies late in the week.
Wednesday Through Thursday
Daytime highs may approach 90 degrees in Seattle and upper 90s in Portland, with some neighborhoods from Portland to Eugene topping 100 degrees. Those highs could flirt with daily record highs from Seattle to Eugene and Medford, Oregon.
For people in Portland and Seattle, the practical step is to watch the air quality map Washington through Wednesday and limit outdoor exposure when the smoke looks worst. The smoke was expected to thin on Thursday, but the heat could linger long enough to keep conditions uncomfortable even as the air starts to improve.
