Poor air quality, hazy skies persist for much of western Washington; improvements expected Monday

SEATTLE — When it comes to the weather this weekend, fire conditions and smoke remain the main concern for many.

The National Weather Service issued a “red flag warning” due to a combination of high temperatures and breezy and very dry conditions that can increase the risk of fire danger.

Air quality has also been an issue due to smoke from the Bolt Creek Fire as well as wildfires in Oregon, with readings ranging from “moderate” to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in most areas as of 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Areas closer to the Bolt Creek Fire have air quality readings ranging from “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy.”

The air quality has improved in some areas across the Puget Sound region, as the National Weather Service ended its Air Quality Alert for Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom counties at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Those in sensitive groups are advised to limit their time outdoors. Healthy people may also develop symptoms over prolonged exposure to poor air quality as well.

While summer is coming to an end, western Washington continues to see high temperatures as Sea-Tac reached 91 degrees Saturday, marking the 13th time we have seen 90 degrees or warmer in a calendar year.

The previous record of 12 days with temperatures at or above 90 degrees in a year was set back in 2015.

The wind will turn onshore Sunday, but be very light inland with only minor improvement in air quality, if at all. Temps will cool a few degrees inland into the lower 80s, with much cooler weather at the coast.

On Monday, a weak system will scour all of the haze out and help to drop temps into the 70s, so we should have pretty nice weather in time for the Seahawks game.

For the rest of the week, we’ll stay cooler in the low 70s and some low clouds and even drizzle could be possible.

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