SMOKE STAYING: Air Quality Alert extended through the weekend

| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(This morning’s sunrise, photographed by Marc Milrod)

Last night, as we reported, the National Weather Service said the wildfire-smoke-fueled Air Quality Alert would probably be extended – and now that’s just happened. It’s in effect until 11 am Monday. The alert notes, “Expect conditions to be worse during the overnight hours through this period as calmer winds will allow smoke to settle.” And @WestSeaWX adds:

It's going to get bad this weekend, see attached smoke model.

Onshore flow will push all of the smoke to our south and west into our area over the weekend, esp on Saturday pic.twitter.com/aaMKpV0eEi

— WestSeattleWx (@WestSeaWx) September 10, 2020

Rache September 10, 2020 (8:54 pm)

If it gets so bad we need to evacuate, where do we evacuate to? (semi-rhetorical question)Forecasters say certain areas of the state may not be quite as bad as Seattle, but that’s no guarantee. Plus, imagine the traffic hellscape if everyone tries to evacuate.In the meantime, we just need to run our air purifiers, keep the windows closed, and vote climate-change-deniers out. What else can we do?

flimflam September 10, 2020 (9:22 pm)

with all due respect, evacuate? huh? WSB, any word on evacuating?
- WSB September 10, 2020 (9:57 pm)
  
  No, there is nothing to evacuate for, no fires anywhere near here….
Erithan September 10, 2020 (11:09 pm)

In 2018(?) we had so much smoke from our own fires and neighboring states our air quality was worse the China, thick yellow haze everywhere. Lasted awhile too due to no wind, they just asked everyone to take measures in case of breathing problems. N95 masks, inhalers ready to go for those that needed them etc.If there is personal concern for yourself or anyone else it may be worth checking into a hotel in another area till the smoke finally clears. Having the breeze right now will hopefully help things too.
- Talia Ringer September 11, 2020 (9:56 pm)
  
  Yeah I have asthma and sleep apnea, and so I fled to Boise for one night, and I’m going to Utah after this. I don’t think it’s good for anyone who is staying, though. Even with a HEPA filter indoors you’re still getting a lot of exposure. Seattle houses are basically cardboard, closing the windows is useless.

Rache September 10, 2020 (10:50 pm)

Sorry if I didn’t clarify my point. That’s why it’s semi-rhetorical. But if it ever gets that bad – and, believe it or not, it could, where are people supposed to evacuate to?P.S. As WSB points out, no fires near here at this point. Nearest is in the Tacoma area. I’m no expert, but smoke can travel. And the next couple of days look bad – not evacuate bad, but still…!

Joseph September 11, 2020 (2:39 am)

In August 2017 and August 2018 we had smoke so thick that you couldn’t see downtown from Alki. Ash was falling from the sky, streetlights were shrouded like a heavy fog at night, and temps were high-80s/low-90s. The best way to “evacuate” from wildfire smoke is to go indoors. It’s much easier to keep our homes closed up with temps in the 70s vs temps in the 90s and mid-50s for night time lows.

Rache September 11, 2020 (12:49 am)

I remember that, Erithan. I was stupid enough to drive down to Tacoma and take a walk in Point Defiance Park. Maybe I was being defiant – but bad idea. Too bad our great nation is unable to produce more N-95 masks for our health-care providers, front-line workers, and the general public. We need them now, more than ever.

anonyme September 11, 2020 (9:26 am)

For a lot of people (most, probably) evacuation is not a possibility. Nor for the most part is keeping windows closed 24/7 in 80-90 degree heat, without even letting in cooling air at night. This may come as a surprise to some people, but air conditioners, air purifiers, and out-of-town hotel rooms – as well as the vehicles required to get to them – are out of reach for many. I did see an interesting hack on YouTube for air cleaning, which was by attaching a furnace filter to the back of a box fan. The list of reasons to leave Seattle is growing by the day.