Region’s air quality reaches ‘hazardous’ range

Air quality in the Inland Northwest has tipped into the “hazardous” range, and regional air quality monitors caution anyone, regardless of health, from exerting themselves outdoors.

The air quality index stood at 305 as of Sunday evening, according to the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency. The maroon-colored rating means that all people, regardless of physical condition or age, will likely be affected.

It’s the worst air quality level Spokane has reached this year.

The smoke could clear by midweek thanks to cooler temperatures and cleaner west winds, according to a National Weather Service report Sunday.

But until then, hazy conditions are expected to continue through the early part of next week, according to a KHQ weather report, and fire alerts will be active because of gusting winds as high as 40 mph.

Cooler temperatures are expected for today, reaching into the 80s Tuesday and Wednesday before falling again later in the week.

The haze caused Gonzaga and Eastern Washington universities to cancel soccer matches Sunday. Gonzaga was set to play California State University, Bakersfield at Luger Field at noon. There will be no makeup date for the match, according to Gonzaga’s website. Eastern Washington women’s soccer rescheduled a match with Seattle University for Monday at 1 p.m. at Championship Field in Seattle.

National air monitoring group AirNow released a map Sunday showing conditions in Washington and, directly north of the border, in Canada to be the worst on the North American continent. Conditions in central Washington were particularly bad.

The Tuxedo Junction concert, scheduled to take place at the Arbor Crest Wine Cellars on Sunday, had been canceled due to the air quality, event organizers said.

“We appreciate your understanding and support, and we especially appreciate the firefighting communities out there!” the business said in a news release.

The hazardous level was seen in Chelan County last week, which prompted officials to distribute masks.

Last year saw several days of hazardous air quality in September, with Spokane pinned between wildfires to the north, south and east.

According to an Associated Press report, smoky, hazy conditions are making a return to the Puget Sound region because of wildfires in British Columbia and the Cascade Mountains, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Smoke could worsen into unhealthy levels today, the agency said.

Smoke from fires in British Columbia drifting into Washington and Idaho is causing the unhealthy air levels, which could last through Tuesday, the weather service said.

Air pollution can be a particular concern to sensitive groups such as the elderly, children and those with respiratory conditions. But high levels of pollution can affect everyone.

Environmental regulators also issued a pollution advisory for southwest Washington, Portland and much of the Willamette Valley. The air quality level is expected to reach into unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Conditions are expected to get worse Sunday night and last through Wednesday.

An air pollution advisory for southern Oregon remains in effect until further notice.