Update: Tri-Cities air unhealthy for all people. Air quality alert issued

Air quality in the Tri-Cities area deteriorated to a level unhealthy for many people Saturday morning and unhealthy for everyone by afternoon as smoke drifted in from fires burning in the Blue Mountains.

The Benton Clean Air Agency has issued an air quality alert Friday afternoon for the next several days.

Forecasts for smoke in Eastern Washington into early next week vary, according to the Washington state Department of Ecology’s posting on the Washington Smoke Blog.

But the Department of Ecology smoke forecast shows Tuesday as possibly the day with the worst air quality in the Tri-Cities area, with issues continuing into Wednesday.

On Saturday morning the air quality measured in Kennewick reached a level of pollution at 8 a.m. considered unhealthy for children, pregnant women, seniors and people with diabetes or heart or respiratory health issues.

It was getting worse through the morning, with pollution increasing to unhealthy for all people by 1 p.m.

At the air monitoring station at Mesa in Franklin County and in Walla Walla, the air quality also was rated as unhealthy for all people.

In the Tri-Cities, children, seniors and people with chronic illnesses should stay indoors, if possible, when air quality is rated unhealthy for sensitive people.

Others should limit outdoor physical activity like running and bicycling, says the Benton Clean Air Agency.

Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, a runny nose and aggravate chronic illnesses, the agency said.

As air worsens, more people may have breathing problems and all people should consider staying indoors.

Windows should be closed, when possible, to keep indoor air clean. Air conditioners should be set to “recirculation.”

Masks rated N96 or N100 offer some protection from air pollution, the agency said. However, cloth masks meant to protect against COVID-19 are not effective against smoke particles.

Weather forecast

Storm systems are forecast for the Northwest, including a slight chance of thunderstorms Sunday afternoon in the Tri-Cities.

Rain is expected in the North Cascades mountain range late in the weekend, which could help firefighters there.

In parts of the Blue Mountains a red flag fire warning was issued for Sunday night, although lightning forecast there could be accompanied by heavy rain.

The Green Ridge Fire in the Umatilla National Forest, the Blue Mountain fire closest to the Tri-Cities, had grown to more than 10,000 acres Saturday morning and was only 15% contained.

There also is concern that lightning and winds with less rain in the coming week could add to the fire danger in Oregon, according to AccuWeather.

The weekend storm system will bring a 30% chance of rain Sunday to the Tri-Cities and break the heatwave.

Temperatures are still forecast to be above normal for the Tri-Cities through Wednesday.

Sunday could break a string of three days with 100-plus temperatures, with the high falling to 94.

Monday and Tuesday will be hot again, with high temperatures just below or at 100, according to the weather service forecast.

Temperatures should start to fall Wednesday to highs in the mid 90s, dropping as low as 88 by Friday.

This story was originally published July 30, 2021 at 3:43 PM.