FERNDALE, Wash. — The days-long air quality alert due to wildfire smoke has been extended by the Northwest Clean Air Agency and remains in effect until until 10am tomorrow, Saturday, September 19th. While there are some active weather events in the forecast, quick dramatic improvements to air quality are not being forecast but some improvements are being expected.
Southerly winds have been pulling wildfire smoke from California and Oregon into the Puget Sound region, including the Ferndale area, over the past 8 days. Areas in Oregon and southwest Washington have seen significant improvements in air quality over the past 48 hours.
A blustery system is expected to arrive later today and be accompanied by thunderstorms, mostly in the Cascades, as it makes its way northward through the Puget Sound region from southwest Washington. Some rain and gusty winds are expected overnight and into Saturday. Unfortunately, the winds are expected to be mostly southerly.
The next significant weather event is expected late Wednesday and into Thursday. This is currently expected to bring the most rainfall the region has seen since May and winds gusting upwards of 45mph. Winds associated with this system are also expected to be southerly.