Thick, smoky haze gives eerie weekend sunsets

A hazy blanket hovered above La Conner last weekend as smoke from multiple wildfires in north central Washington and southern British Columbia drifted into the area, shrouding typical summer views of the snow-capped Cascades but providing brilliant red sunsets over Swinomish Channel and Skagit Bay.

By Monday, though, local air quality was much improved as weekend north winds returned to onshore flows, bringing relief in the form of slightly cooler morning temperatures and easier breathing.

At 3 p.m. the Northwest Clean Air Agency announced its Stage 2 air quality burn ban for Skagit, Whatcom and Island Counties would end at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday as shifting winds cleared out wildfire smoke, improving air quality.

The Skagit County burn ban is active until local fire officials determine that fire danger has passed. The NWCAA air quality burn ban is separate from the three counties' fire safety burn bans.

"The air quality is better today, thank goodness," new La Conner High School girls' soccer coach Maddie Huscher told the Weekly News as the Lady Braves met for their first pre-season workout Monday morning. "We're able to practice outdoors, but we'll ease back a little bit."

Fortunately for La Conner residents and weekend tourists air quality conditions here were better than those in east Skagit County.

"I could see the difference coming in today," Pat Ball, owner of The Slider Café and a Sedro-Woolley resident, said Saturday morning. "It's a lot better here." Still, he closed his café Monday, the handwritten sign taped to the door citing poor air quality.

The numbers bore him out.

The Air Quality Index for Sedro-Woolley registered 153 – "unhealthy" – Sunday afternoon. Residents were advised to consider remaining indoors.

The La Conner-Anacortes-Oak Harbor areas measured in the 50s and air quality here was deemed moderate. It was recommended that people unusually sensitive to increased particles in the air cut back on outdoor activities.

While the hazy sky blocked his usual mountain views, La Conner marathoner Toby Walls set off Sunday on a 6-mile training run, his son Sylas alongside on a bicycle.

Walls noted that wildfire smoke is becoming a more frequent nuisance.

"It's a question now of whether we get it in early summer or late summer," Walls said.

Last year the high school football team had its home opener with Forks canceled because of poor air quality, also the result of wildfire smoke.

This most recent round of smoky skies, while less severe than last September, was expected to clear mid-week. Still, due diligence has been much in evidence.

La Conner Middle and High School Principal and Athletic Director Christine Tripp put in several hours Sunday at her office preparing in case local air quality worsened overnight. The high school's two soccer teams had their first workouts scheduled for Monday morning and there was the possibility those would be postponed if conditions didn't improve.

Ironically, the smoky air here provided some bright spots. Saturday evening tourists lined the channel boardwalk to watch the shrouded sun, appearing bright red rather than yellow, set over Fidalgo Island.

Beth Friedman of the Washington Department of Ecology offered an optimistic outlook late Monday morning.

"We're already seeing improvements in Western Washington with the arrival of westerly onshore winds," Friedman posted. "The smoke will likely linger through today, but skies should be clear by tomorrow morning."