Western Washington was under an air quality alert on Monday as smoke from wildfires around the region piled up after a shift in winds Sunday. With air ranging from unhealthy for sensitive groups to just plain unhealthy around the Seattle area, people have been scrambling to find ways to cope with the hazy, smoky air that eventually can lead to a range of symptoms including irritated eyes, nose, throat and lungs -- and worse for those with existing respiratory or other conditions. RELATED: When will this smoke clear out of Western Washington? But across the Cascades to the east, communities have been dealing with much worse conditions. Air monitoring sites near the two largest fires in the state -- the Cougar Creek Fire, in the Entiat River Valley south of Lake Chelan and the Crescent Mountain Fire north of Lake Chelan and south of Mazama -- remained in the hazardous range Monday morning, with an forecast that increased winds would at least partially clear the air Monday and Tuesday. Farther east, near other wildfires, communities saw similar conditions. For days, even weeks, many of those communities have dealt with far worse air pollution from wildfires near and far. In hazardous air conditions, people are advised not just to avoid exertion -- they are advised to stay indoors as much as possible. On Sunday, Twisp, in Methow Valley, saw air quality dip from unhealthy to hazardous in just a few hours. Chelan was bathed in hazardous air almost the entire day. Smoke from nearby fires may have made things worse in Central Washington, but smoke from British Columbia fires has fed into much of Washington. RELATED: Wildfires blazing across Washington, fire risk high on Monday Smoky skies have historically been relatively rare in Western Washington, where west winds coming off the Pacific Ocean regularly work to refresh the air. In recent years, however, prolonged high pressure systems have acted like a lid for the region, nearly halting movement of air and keeping smoke close to the ground. East of the Cascades, however, the onshore flows have less potency and often do much less to disperse smokey skies. Smoke settles into valleys and river bottoms and may not clear as readily. This week, however, the onshore flows are expected to start clearing things out at least a bit by Thursday for Central and Eastern Washington. The relief will no doubt be welcome for folks who have endured very bad air these past weeks. Senior editor Daniel DeMay can be reached at 206-448-8362 or danieldemay@seattlepi.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Daniel_DeMay.<doc-sep>Geek Life: Fun stories, memes, rants, humor and other random items at the intersection of tech, science, business and pop culture. SEE MORE That’s not another blurry sunset photo or video from your friend on Facebook or Instagram, that’s August, again, in Seattle and the surrounding areas of Western Washington. Little orange circles are dotting images everywhere we look these days as smoke from wildfires elsewhere in Washington state and further north in British Columbia drifts down and blots out summer skies. Missing skylines and mountain ranges are the norm as Seattle — a city not unaccustomed to being blanketed in grey — has taken on that shade during what is traditionally the season where we are reminded why we put up with winter. If you want the science on how bad (and how dangerous) things are, University of Washington atmospheric scientist Cliff Mass has those details. GeekWire wrote about his observations last week, and less than a week later Mass was telling us that the region’s air quality is the worst ever recorded. Another Surge of Wildfire Smoke Hits Puget Sound: The Worst on Record https://t.co/IGwyiJGXPa pic.twitter.com/4QfkTzUB0t — Cliff Mass (@CliffMass) August 20, 2018 At Monday night’s Mariners game at Safeco Field, the fog-like haze created more of a Bay Area atmosphere. Robinson Cano wasn’t choking though, as he sent a ball into the seats to give the M’s a 7-4 win over Houston. Juxtaposing the Space Needle against smoky skies has been a popular move for photographers this month. The smoke is poor timing considering the fact this summer is the grand reveal of all of the renovation work done atop the iconic structure. Looking down 500 feet through the new glass floor might be a better view than trying to spot Mount Rainier in the distance. The Needle’s Panocam is also a great place to get a real-time idea of just how bad things are outside. Greg Johnson’s Skunk Bay Weather, located in Hansville, Wash., on the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula, is normally a place to go to see dramatic webcam footage of sunsets, sunrises, storms and night skies. Drone footage from 390 feet up on Tuesday summed up what we’re all thinking: “Yuck.” Staying inside may be encouraged as a way to avoid irritating your eyes and lungs, but it doesn’t mean you’ll completely escape particulates floating in the air. GeekWire’s Frank Catalano was at Seattle’s Cinerama movie theater on Monday and captured the scene while the projectionist was test screening that evening’s movie. “Even with the house lights up at least half (if not higher), you could see the projector hitting smoke and particulates apparently trapped inside from constantly opening and closing outside doors,” Catalano said. “It was like a 1940’s film noir movie palace. At least the image on screen still looked good.” Check out some other “views” of the smoky surroundings, below. Even my BlueBlockers don’t make it better…RT @HannaBan333: Here's a comparison of the view you'll usually get from the 520 bridge to the picture I took from the bus today pic.twitter.com/fki8Aucx52 — 520 Bridge (@520_bridge) August 21, 2018 Holy Smokes!! Just landed in Seattle. It’s super smoky here!! This was our approach into SeaTac moments ago. Flight to Spokane delayed over an hour due to low visibility. @KHQLocalNews pic.twitter.com/qWyDYre3B5 — Peter Maxwell (@KHQPeterMaxwell) August 21, 2018 Watch Seattle disappear into a cloud of wildfire smoke. pic.twitter.com/DIta8REtgU — grist (@grist) August 15, 2018 And finally, if you’re a fan of sci-fi, and especially “Blade Runner 2049,” you’ll appreciate that things could be a lot worse …<doc-sep>The American Lung Association recommends that people stay inside while air quality conditions remain unhealthy. Wildfire smoke has socked in Puget Sound this week. Low visibility isn't the worse issue. Some may feel adverse health effects. The American Lung Association says smoky air can indeed make you sick. "It is very, very dangerous for anybody who has lung health issues, asthma specifically," said Allison Hickey, American Lung Association's Executive Vice President of the Mountain Pacific Region. "The particulate count that we are experiencing right now is a very, very small particulate. It actually gets through all of your normal defense systems as you are breathing, and it goes directly into your lungs. If it is small enough, it can actually go into your bloodstream as well." Hickey said it can cause headaches, nausea, and coughing. For those with existing health problems, it can be even worse. "We are damaging our lungs is what's happening," said Hickey. "This is really serious air quality that we have going on right now. It is deadly. So the worst thing you can do is be outside, especially exercising." When the air quality is unhealthy, the American Lung Association recommends staying inside with doors and windows closed. The Washington State Department of Health posted the following information online: What health problems can smoke cause? Eye, nose, and throat irritation (burning eyes and runny nose) Wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and headache Aggravation of existing lung, heart and circulatory conditions, including asthma and angina Who is especially sensitive to smoke? Inhaling smoke is not good for anyone, even healthy people. People most likely to have health problems from breathing smoke include: People with lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including bronchitis and emphysema. People with respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis, colds, or flu. People with existing heart or circulatory problems, such as dysrhythmias, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and angina. People with a prior history of heart attack or stroke. Infants and children under 18 because their lungs and airways are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Older adults (over age 65) because they are more likely to have unrecognized heart or lung diseases. Pregnant women because both the mother and fetus are at increased risk of health effects. People who smoke because they are more likely to already have lower lung function and lung diseases. People with diabetes because they are more likely to have an undiagnosed cardiovascular disease. For more information, visit the DOH Smoke From Fires Toolkit. How can I tell if smoke is affecting my family? Smoke can cause coughing, scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, stinging eyes, and runny nose. If you have heart or lung disease, smoke might make your symptoms worse. People who have heart disease might experience chest pain, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, and fatigue. If you have a pre-existing respiratory condition such as asthma, COPD (including chronic bronchitis and emphysema), or allergies, smoke may worsen symptoms (inability to breathe normally, cough with or without mucus, chest discomfort, wheezing, and shortness of breath). When smoke levels are high, even healthy people can have symptoms or health problems. Contact your health care provider if you have heart or lung problems when around smoke. Dial 911 for emergency assistance if symptoms are serious. What can I do to protect myself and my family from outdoor smoke? Check local air quality reports and listen to news or health warnings for your community. Avoid physical exertion outdoors if smoke is in the air. If you have asthma or other lung diseases, make sure you follow your doctor's directions about taking your medicines and follow your asthma management plan. Call your health care provider if your symptoms worsen. Stay indoors and keep indoor air as clean as possible. Take the following steps when indoors: Keep windows and doors closed. Track the air quality and open your windows for fresh air when the air quality improves. Pay attention to the heat indoors and follow guidance in the section below if it's too hot. Run an air conditioner, set it to re-circulate and close the fresh-air intake. Make sure to change the filter regularly. Use an air cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce indoor air pollution. A HEPA filter will reduce the number of irritating fine particles in indoor air. A HEPA filter with charcoal will help remove some of the gases from the smoke. Do not use an air cleaner that produces ozone. See California's air cleaning devices for the home fact sheet (PDF). Don't add to indoor pollution. Don't use food boilers, candles, incense, fireplaces, or gas stoves. Don't vacuum unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Don't smoke, because smoking puts even more pollution into the air. Consider leaving the area if the air quality is poor and it's not possible to keep indoor air clean, especially if you or those you are caring for are having health problems or are in a sensitive group. See section above titled, who is especially sensitive to smoke. For more information about keeping indoor air free of smoke: Improving Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality during Wildfire Smoke Events (PDF). What if I don't have air conditioning and it's hot indoors? Even when the air quality is poor, it's always important to pay attention to the heat and stay hydrated-overheating is dangerous. If it's too hot indoors to keep your windows and doors closed, first consider leaving the area or going to an indoor place with air conditioning, like a friend or relative's home. If it's hot indoors during poor air quality, these steps can reduce the heat: Close curtains to reduce heat gain during the hottest part of the day. Use fans to circulate the air. Should I use a face mask when there is outdoor smoke? If you cannot leave the smoky area or find other ways to reduce your exposure, certain types of face masks can provide some protection. Respirator masks labeled N95 or N100 filter out fine particles but not hazardous gases (such as carbon monoxide). These masks can be found at many hardware and home repair stores and pharmacies. Face masks will not work for everyone. Masks do not work on people with beards because they do not seal well enough to provide protection. Masks are not currently approved for infants or small children. Anyone with lung disease, heart disease, or who is chronically ill should consult a health care provider before using a mask. Wearing a mask makes it more difficult to breathe, which may worsen existing medical conditions. More information Wildfire Smoke and Face Masks Fact Sheet (PDF) Wildfire Smoke and Dust Masks at Work (PDF) Can I use an air filter in my home to improve indoor air quality? Some room air cleaners can reduce indoor air pollution if they have the proper filter. The most effective air cleaners have a HEPA filter. HEPA filters can reduce the smoke particulates in indoor air. HEPA filters with charcoal can also remove or reduce the amount of some other harmful gases from indoor air. These air cleaners should be used in the room where you spend most of your time, which is often a bedroom. For more information, see California's air cleaning devices for the home (PDF). Should I exercise when it's smoky? Exercise is very important for health. When you exercise your air intake is increased, which means inhaling more pollution when the air quality is bad. Avoid outdoor exercise when air quality is in the Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, or Hazardous categories. When the air quality is in the Very Unhealthy or Hazardous categories, consider the indoor air quality and consider limiting indoor exercise. If you are sensitive to smoke, you should limit your activities when air quality is in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category.<doc-sep>
While Wednesday was "unhealthy" with smoke clogging our skies, Thursday's air quality saw some improvements, just like meteorologists hoped. But while air quality may be improving, visibility remains pretty low. But that's actually not all from the smoke: According to the National Weather Service, the oppressive gray of the Seattle area is low clouds and fog. Smoke will continue to hang around Western Washington at aloft, and much of Washington will have at least a haze from all the wildfires for the forseeable future, but for now the winds are finally clearing the air a little. "The marine layer has moved inland this morning, bringing low clouds & fog," NWS Seattle said on Twitter. "Onshore flow has helped to clear out smoky conditions at the surface a bit since yesterday with improvement continuing into Friday!" And forecasters expect the air to continue clearing throughout the day, thanks to winds blowing in from the west and pushing marine air into our area. Improvements started being made on Wednesday afternoon, with the air quality in Western Washington improving to "unhealthy for sensitive groups," as opposed to "unhealthy" for all. But with the way the smoke was trapped above in our skies, many weren't sure that Western Washington would get a break after all. Forecasters made similar predictions for Tuesday night, only to have the smoke stay trapped over Western Washington through Wednesday -- making for some of the worst air quality the Puget Sound area has ever logged, with quality lower than Beijing. RELATED: How harmful is it to breathe wildfire smoke blanketing Seattle? Thursday's air -- though it looks just as gray and low as the smoke did, with visibility at only three miles -- is actually much cleaner. The smoke is now being carried to other parts of the continent, like Alberta. RELATED: Canada declares state of emergency as 556 wildfires burn Washington Department of Ecology Though only 15 states are currently dealing with wildfires at the moment, smoke from the fires is spreading throughout North America, causing air quality concerns from the Cascades to Calgary, Canada. While air quality will likely continue improving into Friday, forecasters expect temperatures to stay cool, in the upper 70s and lower 80s through Saturday. However, with fires on three sides of Washington, it's safe to say that the smoke will be sticking around the forecast as well. And Eastern Washington will remain under an Air Quality Alert through Friday morning. SeattlePI reporter Zosha Millman can be reached at zoshamillman@seattlepi.com. Follow Zosha on Twitter at @zosham. Find more from Zosha here on her author page.