It’s back. Haze of smoke hanging over Tri-Cities

Smoke was blowing over the Tri-Cities from fires burning to the west on Wednesday.

The air quality had deteriorated to a level considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups” by Washington state standards.

Children, pregnant women, adults older than 65 and people with chronic illnesses should limit time spent outdoors.

Wildfires continued to burn in the Columbia River gorge and in the Cascade Mountains on Wednesday.

Air quality to the west of the Tri-Cities was worse, with air quality in Yakima rated as “unhealthy” for all people.

The National Weather Service is expecting air quality to improve on Thursday for the Tri-Cities.

The wind should shift, bringing cleaner air from the north.

Cooler temperatures also are in the forecast for the Tri-Cities. Highs should be in the 70s from Thursday to Sunday and then could fall to the 60s on Monday.

This story was originally published September 13, 2017 at 11:32 AM with the headline "It’s back. Haze of smoke hanging over Tri-Cities."