Bad air lingers in Portland area Thursday morning

Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 20, 2022

Thursday is Portland’s third morning in a row in the “unhealthy” air quality category.

A nasty combination of an inversion with fog that is inundated with wildfire particulate matter continued into Oct. 20. Visibility will be limited to less than one-quarter in some spots, potentially making driving hazardous.

As the Nakia Creek Fire continued to burn northeast of Camas, Washington, experts said the air quality in much of the region ranges from “moderate” to “very unhealthy.”

On Wednesday, the smoke forced Portland Public Schools and the Beaverton School District to cancel events and keep kids indoors.

“Many areas of the state are experiencing smoke effects now, but certainly over the past few years across the state, everybody has had wildfire smoke impact them,” said Gabriela Goldfarb of the Oregon Health Authority.

Air quality could begin improving Thursday afternoon or evening. An onshore flow will increase later in the afternoon, which will move much of the smoke. Air quality should be close to good late Thursday.

Rain is expected to start midday Friday. The heaviest rain over burn scars in Southwest Washington are expected Friday night and into early Saturday morning, creating debris flows.

Snow could accumulate in the Willamette Pass, and the Santiam Pass could collect snow. The snow level could be as low as 4,000 feet, so any side roads off of Highway 26, the road to Timberline Lodge, could have snow this weekend.

KOIN 6 News is a news partner of Pamplin Media Group.