Air quality was unhealthy for those with lung or heart conditions in Port Angeles and at Cheeka Peak near Neah Bay on Sunday but is expected to improve later in the day on Monday.
The National Weather Service issued an air quality alert on Saturday that extends until 11 a.m. Monday.
At 12:30 p.m. Sunday, particulate matter caused by smoke from fires in the Cascades was in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category, according to a monitoring station in Port Angeles and one near Neah Bay.
Pollution was lighter in neighboring Jefferson County, an area closer to the Cascades, where a reading of “moderate” was recorded at the same time in Port Townsend.
The difference, according to a National Weather Service meteorologist, is probably due to varying plumes of smoke pushed by southeast winds toward the northwest and perhaps traveling down the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
A shift in the wind to an on-shore breeze from the west was expected sometime Monday and could provide some relief, according to Jeff Michalski, meteorologist.
“We will have another conference call Monday morning” with air pollution agencies “to see how the concentrations are moving,” he said.
Smoke is flowing to the Pacific Northwest from Oregon as well as the Cascades.
“We’re surrounded by it,” Michalski said.
The wind shift as well as a forecast of higher humidity should lower the fire danger this week, he said.
As of Sunday, the state Department of Natural Resources said that fire danger was moderate in Clallam and Jefferson counties except for the Olympic Mountains, where fire danger was high.
For current air quality conditions, health precautions and additional information, see www.orcaa.org.
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Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.
