Portland posts world's worst major-city air quality amid wildfire smoke
- KGW reported Portland posted the world's worst air quality among major cities on Wednesday, August 5, after wildfire smoke spread across Oregon. - IQAir ranked Portland first globally Wednesday morning, while Oregon officials kept smoke advisories in place and warned residents to limit exposure. - Forecasters said westerly winds should begin improving Portland-area smoke conditions by late Thursday into Friday, August 7.
Portland woke up on Wednesday, Aug. 5, under the worst air quality ranking of any major city in the world, according to IQAir, as wildfire smoke from around Oregon settled over the metro area. KGW reported the ranking Wednesday morning, and other local outlets said the city had moved up from the global top 10 a day earlier as smoke thickened over the Willamette Valley. Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality had already issued a regional smoke advisory on Monday for the Portland metro area and other parts of the state. National Weather Service forecasters said smoke was expected to linger through Thursday before conditions improved later in the week. ### How bad did Portland’s air get? IQAir said Portland was the most polluted major city in the world on Wednesday morning, after ranking among the world’s worst the previous day. KOIN reported Portland’s AQI reading reached 159 on Wednesday, ahead of Delhi at 156 and Kuwait City at 155. OPB reported air near some Oregon wildfires reached well into hazardous territory even as Portland itself remained in the unhealthy range. (kgw.com) KGW said smoke drove local air metrics to record highs and reduced visibility across Portland and nearby communities. OregonLive and OPB both reported dense smoke blanketed much of northwest Oregon, including the Portland area, as fires burned east of the Cascades and closer to Mount Hood. (koin.com) ### Which fires and weather pattern were driving the smoke? IQAir said Portland’s smoke was tied to a combination of a severe wildfire season, offshore easterly flow and heat that trapped pollution close to the ground. The company said the Grasshopper Fire near Mount Hood was one of the most significant nearby sources affecting Portland and Vancouver, Washington. (kgw.com) The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality said on Aug. 3 that smoke from multiple wildfires in Oregon and Washington had prompted an advisory for Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, along with a long list of counties elsewhere in the state. KATU reported the worst conditions were near Mount Hood, while Portland and the Willamette Valley deteriorated from moderate to unhealthy air. (iqair.com) ### What were officials telling people to do inside their homes? The National Weather Service office in Portland told residents to stay indoors, keep windows closed and keep outdoor air intake closed on air-conditioning systems when possible. The agency also said people who must go outside should avoid exertion and consider an N95 or P100 respirator. University of Washington experts, offering smoke-season guidance that regional officials often echo, recommended creating a separate “smoke-ready” room, switching ventilation systems to recirculate indoor air and running a properly sized HEPA filter during smoke events. (oregonsmoke.org) KGW reported local officials were also urging residents to seal gaps around doors and windows, check N95 fit and use HEPA filtration where available. (weather.gov) ### What changed around Portland as the smoke worsened? Portland Parks & Recreation closed pools and canceled some outdoor programming on Wednesday as air quality worsened, KOIN reported. The agency’s closures included Free Lunch + Play sites and Fitness in the Park classes. AirNow’s fire and smoke map showed elevated fine-particle pollution across the region on Wednesday, part of a broader smoke event affecting the Pacific Northwest. (kgw.com) OPB reported advisories were in effect across most of the region, not just in Portland. ### When was relief expected? The National Weather Service in Portland said smoke would take time to move out on Thursday, with skies more likely to improve by Thursday night as westerly winds increased. (koin.com) KATU also reported relief was expected by Friday, Aug. 7, after several days of smoke and heat. Oregon smoke advisories remained active as of Thursday, Aug. 6, and AirNow and OregonSmoke were continuing to track conditions. (fire.airnow.gov) Residents can monitor next updates through Oregon DEQ’s smoke advisories, AirNow’s fire and smoke map and National Weather Service Portland forecasts. (oregonsmoke.org) (forecast.weather.gov)
