Left: An orange haze surrounds the rising sun as it comes up in a sky full of wildfire smoke over Salem. ODF photo by Nick Hennemann.
SALEM, Ore. – Smoke from wildfires will remain over much of
the state today (Aug. 3) but some relief may be on the way for the weekend, at
least west of the Cascades. That’s according to Smoke Management Program
Meteorologist Nick Yonker with the Oregon Department of Forestry in Salem.
In the Portland area and the Willamette Valley, air quality
is currently unhealthy or unhealthy for sensitive groups. The Oregon Department
of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality advisory for Portland,
Salem, Eugene, Medford and surrounding areas as well as for central and eastern Oregon. Particulate matter from wildfire
smoke is one of the concerns.
is currently unhealthy or unhealthy for sensitive groups. The Oregon Department
of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality advisory for Portland,
Salem, Eugene, Medford and surrounding areas as well as for central and eastern Oregon. Particulate matter from wildfire
smoke is one of the concerns.
Yonker said the upper level high pressure ridge may
gradually weaken today and tomorrow and allow for some onshore northwesterly
flow late this afternoon and evening. This will gradually scour smoke from the
air at the coast and inland.
gradually weaken today and tomorrow and allow for some onshore northwesterly
flow late this afternoon and evening. This will gradually scour smoke from the
air at the coast and inland.
“Stronger onshore flow Friday should provide additional
relief west of the Cascades by Friday afternoon and Saturday,” said Yonker. “However,
the winds potentially will increase smoke levels in eastern Oregon by pushing
smoke from the Whitewater Fire near Mt. Jefferson and other wildfires into that
part of the state.”
relief west of the Cascades by Friday afternoon and Saturday,” said Yonker. “However,
the winds potentially will increase smoke levels in eastern Oregon by pushing
smoke from the Whitewater Fire near Mt. Jefferson and other wildfires into that
part of the state.”
Yonker said new wildfires could alter that picture, which is
why Oregonians are being urged to use extreme caution when working, traveling
or recreating in forestland.
why Oregonians are being urged to use extreme caution when working, traveling
or recreating in forestland.
Current air
quality information is available on the web:
quality information is available on the web:
– For areas in Oregon, other than Lane County:
– For Lane County: