Tri-Cities getting smoke from Oregon wildfire. When will it clear out?

A fire burning in the central Oregon Cascade Mountains is sending smoke over the Tri-Cities.

However, the smoke is likely to remain high enough that air quality and visibility are not degraded, according to the National Weather Service. The upside may be some colorful sunsets and sunrises.

Meterologists have not entirely ruled out the smoke settling toward the ground, but if it does it would be most likely be at night.

The Washington state Department of Ecology predicts air quality to be no worse than moderate.

The smoke is mostly coming from the Lionshead Fire that began on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon on Aug. 16 and continues to burn, sending smoke into Washington state.

California wildfires also are contributing to the smoke above the Tri-Cities, according to the weather service.

Skies in the Tri-Cities are expected to remain hazy through Friday night, with light winds helping clear the smoke on Saturday.

Over the weekend a weak cool front could move over the Tri-Cities, bringing some slightly cooler temperatures.

Tri-Cities highs have been in the 80s, which is warmer than usual for the end of September and start of October.

They are forecast to drop into the high 70s during the coming workweek.