The 2023 Seattle smoke season has come in fits and starts with preparations starting with a bout in early July as wildfire — and 4th of July fireworks — added to the haze. This weekend, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says the skies above Seattle could again reach “unhealthy” smoke levels by Sunday

Winds are likely to shift overnight Friday and into Saturday AM. Wildfire smoke is likely to reach Snohomish County Saturday morning, with smoke continuing to move south throughout the day. Concentrations could reach MODERATE to UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS through most of the Puget Sound on Sat with worsening smoke on Sun that could UNHEALTHY or worse at times.

“Limit your exposure outside and use air purifiers, if available,” the agency advises.

The National Weather Service is currently predicting “areas of smoke” through Sunday night with clearing beginning Monday as winds shift. One thing you probably won’t have to worry about is Hurricane Hilary as it degrades and passes over Southern California dumping years’ worth of rain. Some forecasts show the “cone of uncertainty” and impacts from the storm reaching into Washington in the form of gusty winds.

First time I have ever seen the National Hurricane Center have the cone of uncertainty go all the way into the #PNW! This is a very rare and unique event that is about to occur. It may get into Washington by the next update#wawx #orwx #cawx #nvwx pic.twitter.com/IvTsYVdEIk

— Jonathan Pulley (@WhidbeyWXGuy) August 18, 2023

 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.

The state’s Department of Natural Resources reports multiple wildfires currently burning across the state so it is likely we’ll have a few more smoke events this season. You can see a map of current incidents here.

You can follow updates on air quality from pscleanair.gov. You can also check out the fire.airnow.gov map to find community air quality sensors around Capitol Hill and the city.

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