Clark County residents inhaled a breath of fresh air Friday as the haze plaguing the area cleared up.
The Washington Smoke Information blog listed Vancouver’s air quality as good, a welcome improvement following three days of unhealthy conditions.
The Southwest Clean Air Agency and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality began issuing air quality advisories Tuesday, warning area residents that the air was unhealthy for sensitive groups. The next day, the agencies extended the advisories through noon Friday.
The National Weather Service said in a forecast discussion that cooler and cleaner air pushed into the area early Friday morning.
“Wildfire smoke and haze are being carried east of the Cascades as an upper level trough moves across the region,” the discussion said.
Friday morning clouds cleared to expose blue skies and seasonable temperatures. Vancouver’s high for Friday was 77 degrees.
Ideal weather is also forecasted for Saturday, with sunny skies and a high of 84 degrees in Vancouver, according to the weather service.
Unfortunately, the haze is expected to return. Widespread smoky conditions are likely after 11 a.m. Sunday.
Haze higher in the atmosphere comes from wildfires across Southern Oregon and Northern California. Smoke and haze at the lower levels come from wildfires to the north and east, carried to the area by low-level offshore winds, according to the weather service.
