Relief on the way with ‘noticeable’ improvement to air quality by Monday evening

SEATTLE — As smoke hangs in the sky from area wildfires Monday, relief is on the way.

An air quality alert for smoke for much of Western Washington remains in effect until midnight. This comes after Seattle had the worst air quality in the world on Sunday.

But the good news is we’re already starting to see some improvement. Onshore flow is kicking in along the coast and parts of the southwest interior, which will start to clear the smoke. By Tuesday morning, the smoke should be pushed out of the area, except for parts of the Cascades and its eastern slopes.

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Western Washington smoke A photo of smoke provided by KIRO viewer Jerry from Mirrormont.

The air quality alert was issued on Sunday as smoke from the Sourdough and Blue Lake wildfires in the north and central Cascades settled overhead.

As of early Monday morning, the area’s air quality ranged from unhealthy for sensitive groups to very unhealthy. Shortly after 11 a.m., the area’s air quality index had improved to a range of good to unhealthy.

According to KIRO 7 Pinpoint Meteorologist Morgan Palmer, improvements to our air quality will be noticeable later Monday evening, with conditions expected to be back in the good/moderate range by Tuesday.

Smoke blankets Western Washington over weekend

On Saturday and Sunday, smoke was so thick from Seattle that it was hard to see Elliott Bay and the Olympic mountains.

Experts recommended everyone limit their time outdoors, especially people who are older, children, teens, and if you have a heart or lung disease.

With these conditions, they also suggest keeping your windows closed, and if possible, using an air filter.

Air quality scientists have been tracking the conditions, and here’s why they say being exposed to this smoke is very bad.

“People will notice an irritation - burning, itching, and yes, that is a problem. But there are actually more serious impacts in terms of asthma-triggering asthma attacks. There are also risks for heart and lungs for breathing and there’s also a developmental risk potentially for a fetus and developing kids,” said Phil Swartzendrber, air quality specialist with Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

To avoid negative health effects from inhaling wildfire smoke, the Center for Disease Control suggests that you follow these steps:

• Pay attention to local air quality reports and the US Air Quality Index. When a wildfire occurs in your area, watch for news or health warnings about smoke. Pay attention to public health messages and take extra safety measures such as avoiding spending time outdoors.
• Pay attention to visibility guides if they are available. Although not every community measures the amount of particles in the air, some communities in the western United States have guidelines to help people estimate air quality based on how far they can see.
• If you are told to stay indoors, stay indoors and keep your indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed unless it is very hot outside. Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. Seek shelter elsewhere if you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed.
• Use an air filter. Use a freestanding indoor air filter with particle removal to help protect people with heart disease, asthma, or other respiratory conditions and the elderly and children from the effects of wildfire smoke. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on filter replacement and where to place the device.
• Do not add to indoor pollution. When smoke levels are high, do not use anything that burns, such as candles and fireplaces. Do not vacuum, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Do not smoke tobacco or other products, because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.
• Follow your doctor’s advice about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease or cardiovascular disease. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.
• Do not rely on dust masks for protection. Paper “comfort” or “dust” masks commonly found at hardware stores trap large particles, such as sawdust. These masks will not protect your lungs from smoke. An “N95″ mask, properly worn, will offer some protection. If you decide to keep a mask on hand, see the Respirator Fact Sheet provided by CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
• Avoid smoke exposure during outdoor recreation. Wildfires and prescribed burns—fires that are set on purpose to manage land—can create smoky conditions. Before you travel to a park or forest, check to see if any wildfires are happening or if any prescribed burns are planned.

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