When Will The Wildfire Smoke End? – Everett Post

It was another weekend with wildfire smoke. The primary source of the smoke was from the Bolt Creek Wildfire along US 2 east of Skykomish. That wildfire started on September 10th, and has consumed over 12,000 acres, closed the Stevens Pass Highway for two weeks early on, and has since closed the highway several more times as crews battle the fire and its hazards like fallen trees and rocks. The wildfire continues to plague the North Sound region with smoke.

Many are asking – when will it rain enough to put out the wildfires and stop the smoke? In the short-term, low level winds from the Pacific will reduce the current wildfire smoke tomorrow and Wednesday, offering improved air quality but also some morning clouds and fog with cooler daytime high temperatures.

The warm and very dry North Sound summer has now been extended into October. The average high temperature for early October is in the mid-60s. Temperatures this week and will likely continue into the coming holiday weekend, and will remain in the 70s – well above average.

After a cool wet spring, parts of the North Sound have had less than one inch of rain since the summer solstice on June 21st – the driest summer on record. High pressure aloft over the Pacific Northwest will continue the well above average temperatures and dry weather into at least the upcoming Columbus Day holiday weekend.

Until a soaking rain arrives, the wildfires will continue to burn, the threat of more fires remains, and wildfire smoke will stay in the picture. With the unseasonably warm and dry weather expected to persist, area wildfires will continue to burn and produce smoke.

If longer range weather forecast charts are on track, this warm dry weather pattern may break during mid-October and bring enough rain to douse the wildfires and end all the wildfire smoke. Yet until then, at least the wildfire smoke does offer vibrant sunrise and sunset colors.