Wildfire smoke from dozens of large fires burning across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho has pushed air quality to hazardous levels across much of the Pacific Northwest, with Portland briefly ranking among the worst air quality of any major city in the world this week. Air quality advisories remain in effect across the region as of August 7, 2026, and residents with respiratory conditions are urged to remain indoors.

Hazardous Conditions in the Northwest

Air quality near active wildfires reached well into hazardous territory on Wednesday, August 6, according to OPB, which reported Portland as among the worst for air quality among major cities globally at its peak. Smoke from fires across eastern Oregon and Washington has poured westward over the Cascades, blanketing the Willamette Valley and Puget Sound region in thick haze.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Washington Department of Ecology have issued Air Quality Alerts across most of both states. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in many eastern Oregon and eastern Washington communities reached 300 or higher — in the "Hazardous" category — for several days this week. In the Portland metro area, AQI values fluctuated between "Unhealthy" and "Very Unhealthy" for sensitive groups.

Smoke Spreads Beyond the Region

The scale of PNW fire smoke is so significant that it has affected air quality far beyond state borders. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District in California extended an air quality advisory through Thursday, August 6, due to smoke drifting south from Pacific Northwest wildfires. Bay Area officials warned that smoky, hazy skies, the smell of smoke, and unhealthy air quality at times were possible across the nine-county region.

Smoke from the Northwest fires has been tracked by NOAA and NASA satellite imagery as far as the Great Plains and into the upper Midwest, carried aloft by high-altitude wind currents.

Health Guidance for Residents

Public health officials across the region are urging residents to take the following precautions during smoke events:

  • Stay indoors as much as possible with windows and doors closed.
  • Use HVAC systems on recirculate mode, or use portable air purifiers with HEPA filters.
  • Avoid strenuous outdoor exercise, even when smoke is not visually obvious.
  • Wear a properly fitted N95 or KN95 respirator if outdoor activity is unavoidable — cloth masks and surgical masks do not filter fine particulate matter effectively.
  • Check air quality at AirNow.gov before heading outside.
  • Those most at risk include children, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or other respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

Pattern Change May Offer Temporary Relief

Forecasters indicate that a pattern change may push smoke inland and offer some improvement for coastal communities in Washington and Oregon later this week, with Pacific air bringing cooling to the Olympic Peninsula and coastal areas into the 70s and 80s. However, inland communities east of the Cascades are expected to see smoke persist and potentially worsen as winds increase and additional fire activity is possible through the weekend.

Smoke conditions will remain highly variable and dependent on daily wind patterns, fire behavior, and the location of active fire perimeters. Residents should check local air quality alerts daily and not assume conditions have improved based on visual appearance alone, as ground-level PM2.5 concentrations can be dangerous even when smoke appears thin.