Wildfires - smoke

[turnkey4099]

Very bad here (50 miles south of Spokane). Saw on the news that the PNW has had the worst air in the entire country past few days. This monring wx report had it as "dangerous) again. I'm on rehab from back surgery a week ago. Supposed to do some walking but I for sure ain't going out in this. I thought it was fog when I got up, nope, densist smoke I have ever seen for open country.

 

[hawkeye08]

Reminds me of college dorm rooms with wet towels against the bottoms of the door to keep the smoke out, or was that in?

 

[Aquamoose]

Coming from Deer Park (30 min north of Spokane, WA), we have the smoke but just a matter of adjusting our activities. Fortunately, it’s supposed to drop way back down in the healthy zone by 24 hrs. Already, the air is starting to clear out fast.

Yes, it’s mostly from Canada. Temps here are in the 70’s so that’s pleasant at least.

 

[oosik]

Yes - Aquamoose - since it began blowing around 11am - the smoke has started to dissipate and it doesn't smell so strongly outside. A welcome relief.

 

[mapper]

I am amazed that we haven't had more fires this year in western Washington, it is dry dry dry here. Had one shower a week or so ago that dropped maybe .25" , ground was dry the next morning. Neighbor started his shop about a week ago, they dug the footings down about 4 feet to the hardpan. Three months ago if you broke through the sod there you would have sunk up to the axles in gooey mud. It was dust dry all the way to hardpan. No soil moisture here where it has not been watered.

 

[Molalla1]

Yes - Aquamoose - since it began blowing around 11am - the smoke has started to dissipate and it doesn't smell so strongly outside. A welcome relief.

The Portland area has had health warnings for the past week-week 1/2, I live a good 30 miles from there fortunately, and its not so bad here. Pray for the winds.

 

[cqaigy2]

Once again, its that time of the year. Seems a bit early this year. Its been fairly tolerable until the last two days. Now if I go outside for longer than fifteen minutes, or so, I DO cough when coming back into the house.

Usually with the cooling around 8:30pm, the wind would change direction and it would be clear for the night. With sunrise - winds would shift again and here comes the smoke, ash and crud.

The last two day it has become much thicker and does not clear any time - day or night.

Has anybody in my general area been able to find any info on the fires? I've looked and - no joy.

I'm in NE WA state - about 25 miles due SW of Spokane, WA.

Show's pretty bad air quality up there and northern part of Idaho.

 

[oosik]

2:50 AM Tues Aug 21 Spokane Regional Air Quality to improve today with potential of Alert status removed Wed 8/22 @ 10Am. Best news I've had in quite a spell. I can tell - standing out on my porch - the air is better this morning. Still smells smoky and still light blue haze but definitely better. You don't gag the first breath you take when stepping outside.

I hope this is a sign that fires are being put out and not just a shift in the wind direction. Although I notice winds, this morning, are coming straight out of the East.

 

[kc5dlo]

Just got back from a trip up to OR., WA., ID. and CO. If the smoke wasn't irritating to breath, it would really add to the haze. So much so that I felt cheated. Could not smell the trees in the forests and could not much of the mountains or views of valleys. One radio report I heard said it would not get better till probably the end of Sept.
I feel for you guys that have to deal with it every day.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

It's bad here too. Canada fires. I think the whole country must be in flames. Depending on wind direction, it's worse here than L.A. in the 70's. Hope they get it under control soon. And yeah, don't hear squat about the Canadian fires on the news. I'm sure they're suffering too, just like California.