Residents of Western Washington are set for another sweltering, smoky day on Thursday: temperatures could hover near 90°F (about 32°C), and smoke from wildfires will make the air dangerous for people with respiratory conditions. The National Weather Service issued an air-quality alert through 5:00 p.m., urging residents with health issues to limit time outdoors, keep windows and doors closed, and use air purifiers. According to meteorologist Dana Felton, wildfire smoke can worsen asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and in Seattle temperatures may fall just two degrees short of the record high of 91°F (33°C) for the day.
The good news is that the heat will not last long. East winds are expected Thursday evening, which—according to forecasts—will push smoke out of the region by Friday and bring relief over the next week. “Improvement is on the horizon,” Felton said. “By tomorrow, people will definitely feel the difference.” The weekend is expected to bring a gradual cooldown: on Friday, temperatures will rise to the mid-80s (around 29°C), on Saturday to the low 80s (about 27°C), and by Sunday the weather should return to normal with sunny skies and highs in the mid-70s (around 24°C).
Based on: Western WA weather: Wildfire smoke clogs air as temps near 90 degrees