PORT ANGELES — Wildfires in Canada and a weather pattern that has air stagnating over the region created another smoky day on the North Olympic Peninsula on Wednesday.
The Olympic Mountains were obscured by the haze, and air pollution in both Port Angeles and Port Townsend climbed into the “moderate” category, according to the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency’s monitoring stations in those cities.
Under a “moderate” air advisory, people with asthma, respiratory infection, diabetes, lung or heart disease, or who have had a stroke should limit outdoor activities or do activities that take less effort, such as walking instead of running.
The Western Strait of Juan de Fuca’s air quality improved substantially, from a “good” score of 27 early Wednesday to a score of 8 late Wednesday afternoon, according to an air monitor near Neah Bay.
Fog was moving through the Strait that afternoon, reducing some of the smoke at lower levels and displacing smoke as the air mass moved inland, said Josh Smith, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.
A small weather system is moving into the region this weekend, and rain showers may clear more smoke from the air in limited areas, he said.
B.C. wildfires
Most of the smoke inundating the region is from wildfires in British Columbia, while some haze has been created by the Paradise Fire burning in Olympic National Park.
More than 180 wildfires are burning on Vancouver Island and on the mainland of British Columbia north of Vancouver.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that firefighters from Australia were being brought in to augment Canadian forces.
Most of the smoke is moving eastward, but some has filtered south into Washington state.
The Paradise Fire burning in the Queets River valley in the Olympic National Park has been relatively quiet and was producing little smoke Wednesday, fire managers said.
ORCAA has three air quality monitoring stations in the North Olympic Peninsula.
Air quality
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the North Olympic Peninsula’s monitoring stations showed the highest air quality advisory values for the day were:
■ Cheeka Peak near Neah Bay — 27.
■ Port Angeles at Stevens Middle School — 86.
■ Port Townsend on San Juan Avenue — 58.
Air quality advisory categories are:
■ Good — 0-49.
■ Moderate — 50-99.
■ Unhealthy for sensitive groups — 100-149.
■ Unhealthy — 150-199.
■ Very unhealthy — 200-249.
■ Hazardous — 250 and above.
Current ORCAA air quality scores can be monitored online at www.orcaa.org.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
