Air quality worsens overnight in Thurston County area — forecasters expect a hazy weekend
Air quality in the South Puget Sound area deteriorated overnight into Friday morning, with smoke from out-of-state fires moving over Western Washington as was predicted. Forecasters say to expect the haze to stick around through the weekend.
About 2 a.m., state Department of Ecology data shows air quality in the Lacey area crossed from “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” levels. It remained at “very unhealthy” levels in the area at 7 a.m., with a visible haze cloaking the horizon in the Olympia area.
In an area stretching across the Olympic Peninsula, including an air monitoring station in Shelton in Mason County, the data shows levels fell to “hazardous” overnight and were still considered “hazardous” as of 4 a.m., the most recently collected data available Friday morning.
According to the Department of Ecology, “very unhealthy” air quality indicates everyone — not just sensitive groups, such as people with asthma and pregnant women — should stay indoors, avoid all strenuous activity, close windows and doors if it’s not too hot, set air conditioning units to “recirculate” and use a HEPA air filter if possible.
People in areas with “hazardous” air quality and who have heart or lung disease or have had a stroke should talk to their healthcare providers about leaving the area and wearing a respiratory mask if they have to go outdoors, according to the department.
Cloth face coverings such as the masks Washingtonians are currently required to wear in most public settings to slow the spread of COVID-19 might help a bit, according to the Department of Health, but won’t filter out the fine particles or hazardous gasses.
Justin Pullin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle, told The Olympian easterly winds pushed smoke off shore much of the week, and the air quality in the southwestern area of the state was a bit worse than the rest of the Sound on Friday, due in part to its proximity to the coast, along with “a multitude” of other factors.
Air quality is expected to remain at “unhealthy” or “very unhealthy” levels in the area throughout Friday and into Saturday, Pullin said, as smoke continues to move over the region. Smoke is expected to linger through the weekend, Pullin said, through Sunday and perhaps the first half of the day Monday.
According to NWS Seattle, marine air could bring some relief Sunday. However, Pullin said dramatic improvement isn’t expected until Monday night into Tuesday, when a system is expected to bring showers to the area.
Thurston County temporarily increases homeless shelter capacity
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services has issued a “Hazardous Weather Event” advisory starting 5 p.m. Friday and lasting through 8 a.m. Monday, allowing an increase in local shelter capacity for people experiencing homelessness.
15 more overnight shelter beds will be available at Interfaith Works Emergency Overnight Shelter at First Christian Church in downtown Olympia, according to Thurston County Homeless Prevention and Affordable Housing Coordinator Keylee Marineau. A county press release also encourages donations of masks, water, coffee, and other supplies, and says those who wish to donate can call the shelter ahead of time to ask for details.
“The current air quality in Thurston County is currently considered unsafe for certain groups, such as older adults and those with lung disease, asthma, and other underlying conditions,” Schelli Slaughter, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Director, said in a prepared statement. “People who live outside are especially at risk, and we want to make sure there are additional places they can go to escape the smoky conditions in our community.”
This story was originally published September 11, 2020 at 10:00 AM.
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