Wildfire smoke could impact air quality, cause hazy skies in Whatcom County
Air quality could drop to moderate levels or worse on Wednesday as wildfire smoke drifts across Bellingham and Whatcom County, the Northwest Clean Air Agency said.
Smoke is expected across Island, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom counties.
“Elevated smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire on the Olympic Peninsula will be visible, causing widespread hazy skies. Some areas may reach ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups,’“ the air agency said on its social media. Sensitive groups include small children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions such as asthma.
With warm and dry weather in the forecast, smoke could affect the region for several days, the air agency said.
Wildfires are burning across the Northwest and British Columbia, but Bellingham and Whatcom County have enjoyed relatively good air quality because of summer’s prevailing west winds.
Nevertheless, burn bans are in effect in Whatcom County, including state and federal lands.
Drought conditions are expected to remain throughout summer, which is a normally warm and dry season.
