Air quality warning: Smoke and ozone levels could reach harmful levels

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — KATU is issuing a Storm Tracker 2 weather warning for Thursday, predicting very high temperatures and worsening air quality due to wildfire smoke.

On Thursday, high temperatures throughout the Portland metropolitan area and the Willamette Valley will exceed 35 degrees Celsius.

“The AQI in Portland is moderate today and potentially unhealthy Thursday,” said Dave Salesky, meteorologist at Storm Tracker 2.

Smoke from the Williams Mine fire, raging on the western slopes of Mount Adams, is drifting east toward the Portland area.

The National Weather Service in Portland has issued an “air quality warning.”

“Wildfires raging in the region, combined with forecast weather conditions, will cause air quality to temporarily reach unhealthy levels due to smoke and ozone through 8 p.m. Thursday,” NWS Portland said.