PORTLAND, Ore. — A record-breaking heat wave this week has caused wildfires around Oregon to become more active. As a result, much of the state is blanketed by wildfire smoke and hazy skies, including the Portland metro area.
Most areas in Oregon are seeing "moderate" air level qualities, at best. As of Friday afternoon, the U.S. Air Quality index showed Portland in the "moderate" or "yellow" zone, meaning people especially sensitive to air pollution may be at risk. Southerly winds have been pushing smoke from wildfires in Lane County up to Portland.
The worst air quality in the state, the "unhealthy" or "red" zone, are areas around Mount Hood, along with places east and northeast of Bend.
Oregonians may not see any improvement for 24 to 36 hours, according to KGW meteorologist Chris McGinness.
"As the day wears on, the fire activity increases, but also, we’ve got that southerly wind which is blowing that smoke right up the Willamette Valley. So that will continue to be the case, I think, throughout the day today," McGinness said Friday afternoon.
The wildfire smoke is expected to gradually lessen over the weekend. However, the hazy skies may not fully clear until sometime next week.
McGinness tracks the air quality and explains the smoke models in the video below.
"Generally, with the mid-level winds still pointed at Portland, that keeps smoke in play until we can get a bit of a north or northwest wind, which doesn’t happen until later in the day tomorrow," McGinness said.
Portland is expected to hit a high between 95 and 98 degrees on Friday, according to McGinness. Cities along the Oregon Coast will stay much cooler.
How to check air quality
To check the air quality in your area, go to the DEQ's Air Quality Index website. In the search box, type in your city, state or ZIP code. You can also use the interactive air quality map.
