Smoke returns to Whatcom County with unexpected intensity
Air quality continued to deteriorate in Whatcom County as smoke from wildfires in Eastern Washington drifted across the region and the National Weather Service extended an air quality alert.
Bellingham International Airport was reporting a smoky haze with less than 3 miles of visibility about 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, as winds out of the north and east carried smoke from wildfires in British Columbia and east of Mount Baker.
Pollution from smoke particles rose by 4 p.m. to levels considered unhealthy in Bellingham and Lynden, and close to very unhealthy in Kendall, according to monitoring stations maintained by the Northwest Clean Air Agency.
“We’re seeing more smoke coming in than we expected,” said agency spokesman Seth Preston.
“Stay inside if you can, and keep the doors and windows closed. If you still have masks left over from COVID, wear them,” Preston told The Bellingham Herald.
Preston said the smoke forecast was uncertain for Wednesday, Oct. 19.
National Weather Service forecasts in Seattle said that a ridge of high pressure is lingering over Western Washington and keeping the ocean breezes away.
That’s caused meteorologists to extend an air quality alert through 5 p.m. Thursday.
At St. Joseph hospital, staff members were reporting the odor of smoke, said spokeswoman Bev Mayhew.
“Facilities and Emergency Management is actively monitoring the situation and is in contact with Whatcom County Office of Emergency Management for regular updates,” Mayhew told The Herald, quoting from a staff memo.
“We are also lowering the air-intake systems blowers to help mitigate some of the smell and are connecting with departments to help mitigate department-specific concerns as they arise. Emergency Management and Facilities will continue to monitor the situation and will release relevant updates as needed,” the memo continued.
Special filters on the hospital’s air ducts capture 95% of the smoke particles, she said.
Meanwhile, greater smoke concentrations were expected in the eastern parts of Whatcom and Skagit counties, the Northwest Clean Air Agency tweeted.
Areas closer to the Salish sea were expected to see less smoky conditions.
This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 2:51 PM.
