After months of smoke-choked skies, air quality across much of Oregon and Washington has improved significantly as the 2026 wildfire season transitions into its final chapter. Real-time monitoring stations show most of the Pacific Northwest in the "Good" to "Moderate" AQI range this week, a dramatic improvement from the hazardous conditions that blanketed the region during peak fire season.

Current Air Quality Snapshot

As of October 7, 2026, air quality monitoring across the Pacific Northwest shows generally favorable conditions:

  • Portland: PM2.5 AQI at approximately 15 — Good
  • Sisters/Bend area: AQI in the 25 range — Good, with the best readings recorded in evening hours
  • Eastern Oregon: Variable, with moderate readings near active fire perimeters
  • Okanogan/Chelan area (WA): Moderate readings persist near the still-active Sisi Fire and smoldering perimeters of larger contained fires

This improvement reflects a combination of factors: the natural onset of autumn with its shorter, cooler days and reduced fire activity; the containment of most major fires; and a shift in the predominant wind pattern bringing cleaner marine air inland from the Pacific.

What Changed from Summer's Worst Days

During the peak of the 2026 fire season in late July and August, air quality across much of eastern Oregon and Washington reached hazardous levels — AQI above 300 — on multiple occasions. Communities including Omak, Okanogan, Wenatchee, The Dalles, and Pendleton spent extended periods under Air Quality Alerts, with health officials recommending residents remain indoors. Schools canceled outdoor activities, and hospitals in some communities reported elevated emergency room visits for respiratory complaints.

The Columbia River Gorge proved particularly effective at channeling smoke westward into the Portland-Vancouver metro area. During peak events, smoke plumes from Oregon's high desert fires traveled as far as the Oregon Coast Range, affecting communities well outside the immediate fire zones.

Prescribed Burns: New Smoke on the Horizon

With the BLM and U.S. Wildland Fire Service launching their fall prescribed burn season this week across Oregon and Washington, residents should expect episodic smoke impacts in the coming months. Unlike wildfire smoke, prescribed burn smoke is planned, temporary, and typically lighter — but it can still affect sensitive populations.

Tips for managing prescribed burn smoke exposure:

  • Check airnow.gov daily for current AQI readings in your area
  • Keep windows and doors closed on days when smoke is present
  • Use MERV-13 or HEPA air filters in your home if you have central air or air purifiers
  • Have N95 masks available for outdoor activities on smoky days
  • People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or other conditions should consult their physician and have an action plan
  • Watch for low-visibility conditions when driving — smoke can reduce visibility rapidly in valleys and low-lying areas at night

Long-Term Outlook

The NIFC Predictive Services October outlook anticipates continued improvement in fire-related air quality across the Northwest as fall precipitation patterns establish. The El Niño pattern this year is expected to bring wetter-than-normal conditions to the Pacific Northwest through winter, which will help recharge soil moisture and fuel moisture levels ahead of the 2027 fire season.

For air quality updates, visit airnow.gov or Oregon DEQ's air quality monitoring network at oregonairquality.net. Washington's air quality is monitored by the Washington State Department of Ecology at ecology.wa.gov.