Air Quality Alert extended until noon Friday

OLYMPIA, Wash.-- The Washington Department of Ecology has extended the Air Quality Alert until noon Friday, September 18th.

A Smoke Air Quality Alert has been issued due to wildfires burning in the region, combined with forecasted conditions that have resulted in unhealthy air quality.

Meteorologists expect the smoke to last through most of the week.

"Unfortunately, there's not much in terms of relief. With so many fires upstream and the flows remaining southwest, we're going to continue see areas of smoke, though we are going to see improvement in visibility a bit today," said Ed Townsend with the National Weather Service out of Pendleton.

Townsend said there's a slight chance for rain showers on Friday, but that rain might not make it farther than central and eastern Oregon.

Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, and aggravate heart, lung, and other serious health problems. You're encouraged to keep children indoors as much as possible when there is obvious smoke in the air, and follow your doctor's advice if you have a heart or lung condition.