My podcast today has a lot of territory to cover: widespread smoke across western Washington, warm temperatures and strong winter winds create a significant wildfire risk over Northwest Oregon.
This morning’s visible satellite image shows a smoky fire story over western Washington, as smoke from fires on the eastern slopes of the North Cascades is pushed westward by easterly (from east) winds rising overhead .
The plume of smoke was about 6-7 thousand feet high, clearly visible from the Crystal Mountain 360 camera this morning.
The air quality started well this morning in western Washington, but is rapidly declining as solar heat heats the surface causing vertical mixing, eventually reaching the smoke layer and bringing it to the surface. (see Purple Air air quality map around 2 p.m. below, red and purple indicate worst conditions, green is clean air.).
The other issue is the potential for wildfires on NW Oregon as strong winter winds are brewing in the area. Here are the maximum winds so far – some hit 50 mph.
With dry, warm conditions and strong winds, the potential for wildfires to develop is great. As a result, Portland Gas and Electric turned off power to THOUSANDS of CUSTOMERS (see map below)
As described in my podcast, temperatures in western Washington will warm to mid to above 80 on Saturday, and smog will continue with poor air quality during the day.
But relief is looming on Sunday, as cleaner, cooler sea air floods western Washington and Oregon.
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