Less wildfire smoke in Whatcom skies, at least for now. Will it stay away?
Skies remained clear Thursday across Whatcom County, but east winds threatened to carry wildfire smoke over Western Washington for at least one more day.
Air monitoring stations across the Puget Sound region showed “good” levels of smoke particles at 11 a.m. Thursday, according to the Northwest Clean Air Agency.
But computer models from both NOAA and FireSmoke Canada showed heavy smoke blanketing Western Washington later Thursday, Sept. 10, and Friday, Sept. 11.
And the state Department of Ecology’s air monitoring network showed levels of smoke particles in the air were rising from Olympia to Mount Vernon at noon Thursday, and the air in Tacoma was at levels considered unhealthy for everyone.
“Persistent high pressure coupled with another day of offshore flow will result in the hottest day of the week (Thursday) and another day of critical fire weather conditions,” the National Weather Service said in its online forecast discussion.
A red flag warning for high heat and low humidity was in effect through Thursday night.
Temperatures in the low 80s were forecast for Bellingham Thursday, about 10 to 15 degrees above average for early September in Northwest Washington.
It was 82 degrees at 1:40 p.m. according to National Weather Service data from Bellingham International Airport, breaking the record for the date of 81, set in 1989.
Meanwhile, the Northwest Clean Air Agency issued a “stage two” burn ban that outlaws all outside fires, including recreational fires and campfires, in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties.
Both Whatcom County and city of Bellingham fire officials issued similar burn bans Wednesday.
Forecasts call for winds to change to westerly by Friday afternoon, bringing a cool ocean breeze and clearing any smoke pockets that linger.
“Winds will turn onshore Friday initiating a cooling trend and the upper ridge will begin to weaken,” the weather service said. “A weather system moving into the area around Monday and Tuesday of next week will bring cool weather and a chance for some much-needed rain.”
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 7:27 AM.
