Relief from eastern Washington smoky air on the horizon

Smoky air from wildfires in north central Washington and British Columbia continues to be an issue for our region.

Several state departments including Health, Ecology, Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service got together Tuesday to address the current forecasts and conditions related to that smoke.

"98% of our network has experienced at least one "Unhealthy" day and nine sites have reached the "Very Unhealthy" range at least one day in the month of August," says Washington Ecology Department's Camille St. Onge.

Julie Fox with the State Health Department says if you have to be outdoors for long periods of time, consider using a mask.

"The N-95, or the N-100 face mask provides some protection for short-term use but these don't work for everyone," says Fox.

Ecology scientists believe relief could come this weekend or early next week with a shift in the winds.