Smoke is headed to the Seattle area this week as shifting winds carry haze from wildfires burning across the Pacific Northwest into Western Washington.

Why it matters: Forecasters expect air quality to worsen through midweek as smoke filters down to surface level, with potentially unhealthy air quality today, tomorrow and possibly Thursday, Jacob DeFlitch of the National Weather Service in Seattle said.

Driving the news: Much of the smoke is coming from three fast-moving wildfires collectively known as the Spokane Complex fire, DeFlitch told Axios.

• The fires have forced the evacuation of about 65,000 people, destroyed roughly 640 structures, and burned more than 8,000 acres since Saturday, according to the Washington State Emergency Operations Center.
• Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown called it "the worst natural disaster our region has faced."
• A man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of starting one of the fires there, the Associated Press reports.

The latest: Gov. Bob Ferguson said yesterday he expects Washington's request for immediate federal assistance to be approved soon, noting that FEMA is already moving resources into the state.

By the numbers: Washington is battling 13 large active wildfires, most burning east of the Cascades, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

• Oregon has 32 large active fires — the most of any state — with more than 2 million acres burned in 2026.
• British Columbia has recorded 863 wildfires since April 1, including 128 that remain active.

Context: Strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity prompted a rare National Weather Service extreme fire danger warning Friday.

• Across the West, an unusually warm winter produced a below-average snowpack that melted early, reducing the region's natural water storage and helping fuel Washington's fourth consecutive year of drought.

What's next: DeFlitch said cooler, cleaner air is expected this weekend, but noted that Western Washington's smokiest weeks often don't arrive until later in August and September.

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A new coffee shop is coming to Seattle's Central District, filling a former Starbucks space that has sat empty for four years.

Why it matters: Coffee TAB is set to open soon at the corner of 23rd Avenue South and South Jackson Street, long a hub of Seattle's historically Black neighborhood.

Zoom in: The plan is to open the new cafe by the end of the month, Coffee TAB founder Johnathan Tran told Axios.

• The nonprofit offers paid eight- to 12-week barista training programs, and has two other locations in Belltown and Pioneer Square.

Catch up quick: The retail space at 23rd and Jackson has been vacant since Starbucks closed its store there in 2022.

• That cafe had become a popular neighborhood gathering place before it closed.
• Plans for another coffee shop to move in later fell through.
• On the same block, a Walgreens and the Amazon Fresh grocery store both closed this year.

💭 Melissa's thought bubble: As someone who lives a few blocks away, I'm glad to see a coffee shop return to the corner. The fact that it might save me from the weekend line at Temple Pastries is a bonus.

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🚐 Two free, curbside shuttle vans are helping move people from the downtown Bellevue light rail station to other parts of the city. (Seattle Times)

🎥 A coalition that includes Seafair, Climate Pledge Arena, the Seattle Sports Commission and the Capitol Hill Block Party sent a letter asking Mayor Wilson to reactivate CCTV cameras near the stadiums and in Pioneer Square.

• The letter also asks Wilson to expand the program to other parts of the city. (KING 5)

⚾️ The Mariners acquired outfielder Taylor Ward in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles. In exchange, Seattle is sending relief pitcher Alex Hoppe and two minor league pitchers. (MLB.com)

The Seattle Public Library is installing air-conditioning at its last few branches without it.

• By the end of next year, people will be able to go to any Seattle Public Library branch and get a break from heat and wildfire smoke.

Zoom in: The Fremont and West Seattle branches close Sunday for HVAC upgrades and are expected to reopen in November.

• The University branch is already undergoing that work.
• Queen Anne and Columbia are scheduled for upgrades in 2027.

The bottom line: Soon, all 27 Seattle Public Library branches will have A/C.

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Melissa here. I was visiting Clarridge this weekend and was once again struck by the stunning view from her backyard.

• Can you believe she gets to wake up to this every day? My kid calls her place "Christine's beach house" — and he's not wrong.

📸 Got a lovely summer pic? Send it to us — we'd love to share as many as possible in the newsletter as we enjoy these last sunny weeks. Just hit reply.