Air Quality

For weeks this summer, air quality across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho reached levels health officials described as the worst on record. As the season closes, public health agencies are drawing lessons and pushing communities to prepare for 2027.

The 2026 smoke season was among the worst on record for Pacific Northwest communities, with Chelan, Okanogan, and Walla Walla counties experiencing prolonged stretches of hazardous air quality from multiple large fires.

Washington, Oregon, and Idaho saw historic wildfire smoke exposure in 2026, with several counties recording their worst air quality in 20 years of monitoring. Health agencies are reviewing impacts on vulnerable populations and planning expanded sensor networks ahead of 2027.

After months of choking wildfire smoke that sent AQI values into the 'Very Unhealthy' and 'Dangerous' range across the Pacific Northwest, fall rains have brought significant relief — though prescribed burn operations may cause localized impacts through November and December.

The 2026 wildfire season delivered some of the worst air quality the Pacific Northwest has experienced in decades, with smoke blanketing communities from the Willamette Valley to the Inland Northwest for days and weeks at a time. Washington's Department of Ecology confirms most of the state experienced at least one day of unhealthy air.

Oregon DEQ has issued an air quality advisory for Josephine County (Grants Pass area) through Friday evening, November 6, due to smoke from prescribed burns and local burn operations.

Fall rains and cooler temperatures have cleared the air across the Pacific Northwest after one of the region's worst smoke seasons on record. AQI near Leavenworth hit 849 at the season's peak. With active fires contained or winding down, air quality has returned to good and moderate levels across most of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Pacific Northwest air quality has improved significantly as wildfire activity winds down, though health officials note cumulative smoke exposure effects may linger and winter wood burning presents its own seasonal air quality challenges.

Washington's Ecology Department has reviewed the 2026 wildfire smoke season: most of the state experienced unhealthy air at least once, with Chelan and Okanogan counties recording their worst smoke exposure in 20 years.

A new Oregon State University study found that the average number of smoke-impacted school days rose from 6.8 to 54.4 annually over 17 years, with childcare centers seeing even sharper increases — from 9.4 to 112.2 days per year.

Wildfire smoke became a defining feature of summer 2026 across the Pacific Northwest, with nearly every Oregon region experiencing sharp increases in unhealthy air quality days. The season exposed gaps in public health infrastructure and renewed calls for stronger smoke preparedness policies.

Fall Pacific storms are clearing the skies across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho after a summer of record-breaking wildfire smoke that sent AQI levels to hazardous readings in some communities and ranked Portland among the world's worst air quality cities.

Oregon and Washington’s record 2026 fire season brought months of smoke that repeatedly pushed air quality into unhealthy and very unhealthy ranges across the Pacific Northwest. Public health officials urge residents to prepare for continued prescribed burn smoke this fall.

Oregon's Health Authority finds wildfire smoke days are increasing statewide — and urban areas like the Portland metro are seeing faster growth in smoke exposure than rural communities. Here's what the data shows and how to protect yourself.

Washington's Department of Ecology has released its air quality review of the 2026 wildfire season, finding that most areas of the state experienced at least one day of unhealthy air — with Central and Northeast Washington seeing their worst smoke exposure in more than 20 years.

A review of the 2026 smoke season shows central and northeast Washington experienced the most prolonged unhealthy air quality, driven by proximity to large wildfires. With fire activity now subsiding, fall prescribed burns will be the primary remaining smoke source.

Air quality advisories remain active in parts of Oregon (Wasco, Hood River, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler counties) and eastern Washington, with ongoing smoke from multiple smoldering and active fires. AirNow.gov and the Oregon Smoke Blog provide real-time updates.

Washington State Ecology's review of the 2026 fire season finds most of the state experienced unhealthy air quality, with Chelan, Okanogan, and Northeast Washington counties hitting record smoke exposure levels.

Communities east of the Cascades in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho endured some of the worst air quality in recorded regional history during the 2026 fire season, with monitoring stations in Chelan County recording multiple consecutive days of Unhealthy and Very Unhealthy AQI values. As fire activity slows, air quality is improving — but prescribed burns this fall will bring localized smoke events.

A review by the Washington State Department of Ecology shows that nearly every county in Washington experienced at least one day of unhealthy air quality from wildfire smoke during the 2026 season, with Chelan and Okanogan counties among the hardest hit.