Canadian wildfires will burn through the summer — this week, the winds could bring smoke to Seattle — You can view this fire and smoke map at ospo.noaa.gov

This summer began with the East Coast getting a taste of smoke season. Forecasters say the Pacific Northwest might also soon experience the haze and smoke from wildfire burning across Canada — mixed with smoke from new wildfires in Washington and lingering from Tuesday’s 4th of July celebrations.

Wildfires burning in Alberta and British Columbia and shifting weather conditions that are expected to bring winds from the north could lead to “smoke impacts in Washington this week.

“At this time it’s uncertain how much of that transported smoke will reach the surface and how much will stay above us in the atmosphere,” the update from the local, state, and federal Washington Smoke Information partnership reads. You can view the current — as of Sunday still mostly smoke-free — forecast at the site, too.

The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for portions of Central Washington on Saturday which could mean more local fires adding to any air quality issues. “Local smoke impacts from firework displays and usage will linger into the morning of July 5th,” the forecasters remind.

The major Canadian fires and a dry summer could mean an earlier start on Seattle’s smoke season. In 2022, the first seriously unhealthy air didn’t arrive until September but the seasons shift from year to year. As has been asked about the Canadian fires, 2022’s terrible late smoke season had people asking why more wasn’t being done to put out the Washington wildfires including the major Bolt Creek Fire.

CHS looked here at the issues around fighting the fires in deep, hard to access wilderness areas, the benefits to letting nature take its course, and why we’ll likely see more fires like Bolt Creek.

We also examined what Seattle leaders need to do to better prepare the city for the increasingly smoky summers ahead including clean air shelters and new rules to protect workers.

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