Entiat, Washington – Unhealthy air is blanketing parts of North Central Washington this afternoon, with smoke from the nearby Pomas Fire pushing East Wenatchee’s air quality to hazardous levels.
According to the Washington Smoke Blog and the National Weather Service, PM2.5 concentrations reached an AQI of 155 in East Wenatchee as of noon Monday—classified as “Unhealthy.” In Entiat, readings were slightly lower at 93 (“Moderate”), but rising hourly. The Pomas Fire, burning 36 miles northwest of Entiat in rugged terrain, has grown to 160 acres since June 13 and is expected to remain active through the week due to hot, dry, and windy conditions.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for Chelan, Douglas, and Yakima counties until 9 p.m. Monday, with gusty westerly winds up to 35 mph and humidity levels as low as 13%. These conditions are primed to accelerate both wildfire spread and smoke transport into populated areas along the Columbia River.
Residents in smoke-impacted zones, especially those with heart or lung conditions, should avoid outdoor activity and use air purifiers indoors. Schools and outdoor workers may need to modify schedules if conditions worsen. Visibility along U.S. Route 2 and State Route 28 could also decline.
Smoke impacts may persist through Thursday, with additional air quality updates expected daily.
