Air quality becoming unhealthy in the Inland Northwest

SPOKANE, Wash.– An Air Quality Alert remains in effect on Saturday as air quality levels are approaching the unhealthy range in several communities.

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Air quality monitors have measured more smoke in the air and a steady drop in air quality since around 4 a.m. Pullman, Moscow,and Sandpoint all reached the ‘Unhealthy’ category before 10 a.m. Saturday. Spokane is seeing consistent air quality in the ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ category while Coeur d’Alene is at ‘Moderate’ and one of the cleanest spots in the region. The L-C Valley is consistently in the ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ range as of 10 a.m. Saturday.

Washington Dept. of Ecology

Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality

READ: How to check air quality right now in your area

Winds are expected to increase across the Columbia Basin Saturday afternoon, which could help clear out some smoke around the Palouse, L-C Valley and Spokane areas. The northern Idaho Panhandle is unlikely to see any relief later today.

With air quality borderline unhealthy in many areas, avoid spending time outside for more than a few minutes. Click the link below for more tips on staying safe during smoky days.

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