Dense Smoke — Wenatchee Area, Washington

2020-09-12 to 2020-09-19 · Wenatchee Area, Washington

Event narrative

An air quality sensor in Wenatchee recorded unhealthy air quality from September 12th through September 19th. Thick smoke dispersed a little on September 15th with the arrival of a weak front and wind shift. This was temporary and very unhealthy conditions returned until the arrival of a cold front on September 19th which ventilated the area.

Wider weather episode

Multiple large wildfires in Washington, Oregon, and surrounding states produced copious quantities of dense smoke throughout the month of September. Due to poor ventilation and a gradual return to southwest winds, there were increasing amounts of wildfire smoke to Washington. The smoke from these fires severely degraded air quality across much of eastern Washington in mid-September. Numerous communities, especially in the Spokane area, suffered long periods of very unhealthy to hazardous air quality.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 922091. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.