Smoke from the Bear Gulch fire lowered air quality in the Seattle area Tuesday. Screenshot: AirNow
Seattle wokeup to hazy skies Tuesday as smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire drifted into the area.
Why it matters: Air quality was listed as moderate in much of the Seattle region on Tuesday morning — safe for most people but risky for those with asthma, heart disease or other sensitivities, according to AirNow.
State of play: Northwesterly winds are funneling smoke from the Bear Gulch fire near Lake Cushman — now at 8,826 acres and 13% contained — into the city, National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Gonzalez-Fuentes tells Axios.
High pressure is trapping the haze near the surface, she says, and the smoke is causing red sunrises and sunsets.
What's next: Expect similar conditions Wednesday. By Thursday, a slight chance of showers and shifting winds may help us get out the haze, per Gonzalez-Fuentes.
