Most areas of Washington had at least one day of air quality classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse during the 2026 summer, according to the Department of Ecology's October 12 smoke-season review.
The heaviest, longest-lasting impacts were in Central and Northeast Washington. Coastal areas largely avoided unhealthy air. The statewide picture was uneven, which makes checking conditions close to home useful when smoke returns.
A Nov. 2 reminder from Snohomish County Emergency Management pointed readers back to the August smoke episode and linked to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s sensor map.
A look back at August
Snohomish County was included in an August 3 joint smoke alert from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and local health departments. The agencies warned that incoming smoke could push regional air quality into the Unhealthy category.
By the morning of August 10, the clean air agency reported Good readings at its monitors following the smoke episode. Those dated reports describe summer conditions; the maps below are the place to check the air now.
Two maps worth saving
- For Snohomish County: the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency's Fine Particle Sensor Map is linked from its official website.
- For Camano Island and elsewhere in Washington: Ecology's Washington Air Quality Map displays current Air Quality Index readings from the state's monitoring network.
Check the latest conditions before a long walk, outdoor practice or other activity when smoke is around. Ecology advises checking regularly because air quality can change quickly.
What the colors mean
Ecology identifies people younger than 18, adults over 65, pregnant people and outdoor workers among those more sensitive to smoke. Its guidance also includes people with heart or lung disease, respiratory illnesses, diabetes or a history of stroke.
On the Air Quality Index, orange means Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, with values from 101 to 150. People in those groups should spend less time outside and reduce strenuous outdoor activity. Red means Unhealthy, with values from 151 to 200, when everyone should reduce exposure.
Air-quality information remains useful beyond wildfire season. Wood stoves and outdoor burning can also produce smoke. Ecology's smoke-health guidance explains ways to keep indoor air cleaner and reduce exposure.
Information checked November 3, 2026. The summer reports describe past conditions; use the linked maps for current air quality.
