Air quality is slowly improving across Washington State

Washingtonians can breathe a little easier today, as the air quality has improved overnight.

Although the air is still considered unhealthy in many parts of the state, the Washington Smoke blog, a partnership between state, county, and federal agencies and Indian Tribes, reports that “the worst is behind us.”

Most years, this would be a terrible air quality map. In 2020? Progress! None of our monitors are reading “hazardous” this morning, and there’s only one spot of “very unhealthy” left west of the Cascades. A sloooooow clear-out is underway. Forecast – https://t.co/kxF5C1LejU pic.twitter.com/6p7BNVBnkp

— WA Department of Ecology 😷 (@EcologyWA) September 18, 2020

They estimate that the air quality will return to regular, good levels by Saturday night.

• See also: 
  • Here’s how to smoke-proof your home in the wake of wildfires
  • Seattle has one of the worst air qualities in the world right now
  • Washington wildfires result in air quality advisory in Canada

In Western Washington, rain and light winds are bringing “disorganized, mixed results.” Smoke from Oregon fires are continuing to enter Washington, delaying the air’s scrubbing process.

Eastern Washington is seeing good ventilation across the Columbia Basin, which will help erode away smoke that’s been stuck in the valleys.