Portland air quality to worsen as wildfire smoke pushes west
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Light, Northwesterly winds are forecast to push wildfire smoke into the Portland area starting Wednesday afternoon and into Thursday, creating air quality advisories for the region.
KOIN 6 Meteorologist Kelley Bayern forecasts that air quality conditions could worsen from good to moderate by Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re hot and hazy today,” Bayern said. “We’ll start a three-day stretch in the 90s through Friday with a spike into the mid-upper 90s tomorrow. Wildfire smoke from fires in Washington will push across the Portland metro area by this afternoon. Air quality is expected to drop to the moderate category.”
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This week’s temperatures are predicted to peak at 96 degrees on Thursday. Cooler weather in the 70s is forecast for early next week.
The National Weather Service predicts that the smoky haze will spread further west on Thursday, covering most of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington and other large areas of the Pacific Northwest.
“The heaviest concentrations of smoke are expected within closer proximity to ongoing wildfires, especially in the Cascades and Hood River County,” the NWS daily forecast discussion states.
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The Oregon Department of Environmental Equality is also warning the public that elevated ozone, a main component of smog, may reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups in both Vancouver and Portland through Thursday evening.
“It’s just hanging out there in the air, and it interacts with the heat and the sun, and that’s what forms that air pollution,” said Michael Loch, a DEQ spokesperson.
Smoke coming from the Williams Mine Fire burning near Mount Adams in Washington is of particular concern, he said.
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“With that, and all the other wildfires combined, we thought that the models might show that there’s gonna be some smoke that comes here between now and Friday afternoon. But hopefully not,” Loch said.
Dr. Sarah Present, a public health officer for Clackamas County, shed light on the vulnerable groups who may be impacted by the diminished air quality.
“We consider that to be infants and young children, and that’s because they breathe more frequently. Pregnant women also have circulation differences,” Present said.
People with underlying conditions, such as those with lung and heart diseases, are also vulnerable, she added. Though Present said masking up helps, it’s best to avoid going outside altogether.
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That’s exactly what some neighbors said they’ll be doing over the next few days.
“We’ll probably just take it easy tomorrow then if it’s going to be bad, then come back when it’s nice and clear,” said Bryan Haynes.
“She’ll be doing parkour around the couches and all that good stuff,” said Alfred Tang while taking his dog on a walk.
For the latest air quality index in your area, visit AirNow.gov.
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