Puget Sound region’s air quality takes a hit in wake of Fourth of July fireworks
Jul 5, 2021, 11:56 AM | Updated: 5:57 pm
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Despite most areas across the Puget Sound enacting burn bans and bans on fireworks, the region’s air quality took a turn for the worse between July 4 and Monday.
KIRO 7 Meteorologist noted the change in air quality from Bothell, where the city enacted an emergency, temporary ban of fireworks.
While not as bad as in some years past, air quality took a hit last night into this morning in most areas of Western Washington. Smoke from fireworks. This graph from Bothell. #wawx pic.twitter.com/9Q7K87Sy8J
— Morgan Palmer (@MorganKIRO7) July 5, 2021
According to Purple.com’s air quality monitors, air quality was in the moderate range around Seattle, the Eastside, and north into Mount Vernon, Concrete, south Whidbey Island, and Bellingham on Monday morning. Air quality improved throughout the day on Whidbey Island and through areas around Gig Harbor and Vashon Island.
“This is a problem we commonly see when winds are light,” Palmer said on Saturday, of air quality after fireworks.
Air quality is good around Olympia, Tacoma, and the San Juan Islands.
Omak, Winthrop, Mazama, and Tonasket experienced unhealthy air most of Monday, with crews battling a wildfire nearby in Douglas County.
According to the state’s Department of Ecology prediction map, air quality will improve into Tuesday.
Forecasters say there’s not much precipitation this week with highs mainly in the 70s to mid 80s for Monday and Tuesday across Western Washington. Wednesday will cool a bit and see clouds. There’s a chance of showers at the Washington coast, according to the National Weather Service. Thursday and Friday warm back up with dry weather.
Partly cloudy & dry Monday & Tuesday with highs mainly in the 70s to mid 80s. Mostly cloudy Wednesday with a chance of showers for the Coast, & highs in the mid 60s & 70s. Mostly sunny, dry & warm weather returns for Thursday & Friday.#wawx pic.twitter.com/ut5jRQBGdc
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) July 5, 2021
Last week, Washington State Parks issued a level 3 burn ban, which means no wood and charcoal fires at its parks statewide and on ocean beaches until further notice. There’s also a statewide burn ban on all forest lands under the Washington State Department of Natural Resources fire protection.
Several counties have also issued their own burn bans.
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