Smoke from the dozens of active wildfires burning across Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia is blanketing a massive swath of the Pacific Northwest and Great Plains, creating unhealthy to hazardous air quality conditions for millions of people and pushing smoke plumes as far east as the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast United States.

Current Air Quality Conditions

As of July 29, 2026, air quality across much of the Pacific Northwest ranges from Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (AQI 101–150, orange) to Unhealthy for everyone (AQI 151–200, red) in the heaviest smoke concentration zones. Satellite imagery from NOAA shows large medium-to-heavy density smoke plumes drifting northwest and spreading across the northwestern United States and southern Canada.

Areas currently experiencing the worst air quality include:

  • Central and eastern Oregon, especially communities near active fires such as Warm Springs, The Dalles, Bend, and Pendleton
  • Eastern Washington, including Wenatchee, Yakima, and the Tri-Cities area
  • Western Montana, where Missoula County is experiencing unhealthy conditions for all residents
  • Portions of Idaho, including the Treasure Valley and Magic Valley regions

Air quality in the Idaho and Utah corridor, including parts of the Boise metro and Salt Lake City, is in the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" (orange) range. The smoke is also affecting communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, and as far east as the Great Plains.

National Smoke Impacts

Weather forecasters have confirmed that smoke from the Pacific Northwest fires is riding upper-level atmospheric currents far beyond the region. Reports indicate smoke is affecting air quality in the Mid-Atlantic states and portions of the Southeast, following similar patterns to major smoke transport events of recent years. The extent of the smoke spread reflects both the volume of material being released by the fires and favorable upper-air flow patterns moving the plumes eastward.

Health Guidance

Health officials are urging residents in affected areas to take precautions to reduce smoke exposure:

  • Stay indoors when air quality is unhealthy. Keep windows and doors closed
  • Use air purifiers with HEPA filters to reduce indoor particle concentrations
  • Wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask if you must spend time outdoors
  • Avoid strenuous outdoor activity — exercise increases your breathing rate and smoke inhalation
  • Sensitive groups — including children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with heart or lung conditions — should follow stricter precautions
  • Check AirNow.gov for real-time, zip-code-level air quality information

When Will It Clear?

The National Weather Service indicates that smoke should be somewhat less pronounced today, July 29, compared to the past two days, as slightly cooler and calmer conditions arrive in the northern half of the West. However, as long as dozens of large fires continue burning across the region, elevated smoke impacts are expected to persist for days to weeks. Any return of wind events or new fire growth could rapidly worsen conditions again.

Monitor airnow.gov, Oregon DEQ, Washington Department of Ecology, and your local health department for ongoing air quality updates and health advisories.