Whatcom might still see wildfire smoke. Here’s what air-quality officials say
Air quality should continue to improve across western Whatcom County, even as wildfire smoke lingers overhead.
U.S. and Canadian forecast models show high-level smoke swirling across Western Washington from wildfires in Oregon, Eastern Washington and British Columbia at least through Tuesday, Sept. 13.
But winds off the Pacific Ocean should keep the smoke away from lower elevations, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service in Seattle.
A weekend burn ban issued by the Northwest Clean Air Agency was canceled Monday, Sept. 12, as a red flag warning for fire danger expired when cool, humid air returned Sunday, Sept. 11.
“Lingering smoke from the weekend will be pushed to the east as southwesterly winds help to clear the air,” the air agency said in a tweet Monday. “A return to more seasonal temperatures and onshore flow over the next few days is expected to prevent smoke from fires east of the Cascades from entering our area.”
The sky may appear hazy at times because of high-altitude smoke, the agency said.
Air quality readings Monday afternoon showed that conditions were moderate in Bellingham and Kendall, but good in Lynden.
Widespread smoke last weekend caused air quality to drop into the unhealthy range and made breathing difficult for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma.
