Ominous smoke cloud settles over Tri-Cities. Where is it coming from?
Smoke was pouring into the Tri-Cities area Friday from a wilderness fire that has been burning in Oregon since Aug. 1.
The Tri-Cities air quality from Friday morning through early afternoon was rated as “moderate” by the Washington state Department of Ecology.
The Benton Clean Air Agency issued an air quality alert Friday afternoon.
If light breezes continue as forecast, the air quality could remain rated as moderate for smoke through the weekend, the agency said. But if the weather forecast changes, air quality could deteriorate further it said.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the Tri-Cities for Friday, predicting that the high could reach 103, breaking the previous record for the date of 100. The normal high for the day is 86.
However, if smoke continues to pool over the Tri-Cities area it could keep temperatures lower.
The weather service did not expect the smoke drift to change course at least through Friday, moving north to Washington and then spreading eastward to reach the Tri-Cities.
The Cedar Creek fire in the Cascade Mountains southeast of Eugene, Ore., was burning through old growth timber stands after a lightning strike just over a month ago.
Firefighters were constructing fire lines to try to contain the fire burning in steep terrain in an area without roads. It has burned about 9,200 acres.
Ozone levels also were elevated in the Tri-Cities air on Friday. Ozone was considered moderate, one step worse than good, Friday morning.
Friday appeared to be the last day of 2022 with temperatures that could reach the triple digits.
Although the weather service had issued a fire watch also for Friday, it no longer is concerned with gusty winds late Friday no longer expected.
Temperatures should start to drop quickly through the Labor Day weekend.
A high of 89 is forecast on Saturday and 91 on Sunday. But then highs should drop into the 80s, falling to as low as 80 degrees on Thursday, according to the weather service.
The Weather Channel, which issues a 10 day forecast, predicts highs in the 80s for the Tri-Cities to continue through mid-month.
This story was originally published September 2, 2022 at 11:19 AM.