The smoke that continues to cloak Portland has resulted in consistently dangerous air quality, causing restaurants and other businesses in the area to close. Out of all major cities, Portland currently ranks number one in the world for worst air quality. Friday may mark the beginning of an upturn in air quality and the disappearance of the smoke obscuring the University of Portland campus.
Pockets of clean air are expected this week, and the air quality advisory will be lifted by the end of today. The air should start to clear up Friday morning, according to the DEC. Once air quality improves to “moderate” and “good” levels, the DEC recommends opening windows and beginning to clear out the indoor air.
A majority of the improvement will come this weekend, when changing weather and winds will move the smoke offshore, bringing cooler and fresher air. Rain is also expected this Friday, offering some assistance in fighting the wildfires.
Wildfires in Oregon continue to burn and as some areas have their evacuations lifted, others are under new evacuation orders. The DEC cautioned that active wildfires may continue to impact surrounding areas, and air quality can be unpredictable. It’s important to keep track of the air quality, especially for those with underlying health conditions.
Austin De Dios is the News and Managing Editor of The Beacon. He can be reached at dedios22@up.edu.
