General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWe are literally being advised to stay inside in Seattle because of smoke.
It is AWFUL. This used to be one of the cleanest places in the world. Were being destroyed by droughts and wildfires. My heart is breaking and my eyes are burning. We need to get rid of the anti-environmentalists NOW and work like mad to fix this! I dont think its quite too late but Im getting nervous.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,719 posts)for most of a week we were under an air quality warning in Minneapolis, 1,600 miles away, because of the smoke. Although there were few clouds and it was warm, there was enough of a high overcast that we couldn't see the sun. It was very weird. I hope it clears up soon but I'm also very concerned that we won't be able to fix this.
nolabear
(41,984 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,719 posts)nolabear
(41,984 posts)It rains so much here I look forward to the three months every year when were heaven. The last two years its more like hell. Everything but the brimstone.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)I thought that was impressive.
I spent the first 40 years of my life in Wash. state and never ever heard of anything remotely close to this bad, with the entire West of the Rockies burning at once. The fire maps that zoom out show hundreds of fires thru out the West, even in Alaska. Most of Washington is having fires, both sides of the state.
My heart is breaking. This is what it is like to live with global warming NOW. So much worse to come.
Most people will never know how beautiful it was.
Profoundly sad.
defacto7
(13,485 posts)Bluepinky
(2,272 posts)It makes me so sad. I wanted to take a trip with my kids to see Yosemite National Park and others, now I dont know if there will be anything left.
MFM008
(19,814 posts)At the park for 15 minutes because of the smoke laying over puget sound yesterday. Today another bad day.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)forests of the Pacific Northwest, let's just hope you never have to worry every year if you'll lose your home. That's, of course, where millions of Americans already are. Billions around a planet on fire.
Because we are just too far into climate change to return to anything like what used to be. Not in the rest of my lifetime, anyway. Real mitigations of its effects are possible from what I've read, but severe climate-change droughts are reportedly believed to be "locked in" for the next few decades, even if greenhouse gasses were dramatically cut today.
KT2000
(20,581 posts)smells like the raw wood burning. Checked the map and we are very unhealthy today. The Vancouver Island fires are bypassing Victoria and coming straight here.
handy maps here - click under the map for a larger one. http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
PearliePoo2
(7,768 posts)You normally can see Shaw Island clearly in the distance. Not now.
https://islandcam.com/friday-harbor/
brooklynite
(94,587 posts)Could smell the smoke at the airport. The haze over Elliot Bay is really deep
PearliePoo2
(7,768 posts)and what's to come. Lots of maps and satellite pics.
http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/
It's like the whole West Coast is on fire.
nolabear
(41,984 posts)Aristus
(66,380 posts)to about half a mile. It looked like LA in the early seventies.
ismnotwasm
(41,986 posts)Not to mention those of us who lucky with healthier lungs are coughing and sneezing
It looks dystopian out there
nolabear
(41,984 posts)Poor guy is literally trying to figure out how to get his one year old son to wear a mask.
How did we get here? 😢
Hekate
(90,708 posts)suffragette
(12,232 posts)I posted a picture and video further down in the thread. Its pretty bad.
PearliePoo2
(7,768 posts)The wind is switching to SSW Wednesday or Thursday instead of from the North like now. That will keep all the smoke from B.C. and Eastern Washington away from us. Hang in there!
I know what you mean. I'm freaked out about all the fires and drought too. I've never seen anything like this.
My sister lives in Spokane and it's probably the worst in the country right now.
nolabear
(41,984 posts)I hope youre right about the clearing. Now if they can put out those fires!
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)I have sons and brothers up there, the pictures are shocking.
DesertRat
(27,995 posts)Here in the mountains of eastern AZ smoky summers are becoming an unwelcome way of life.
2naSalit
(86,643 posts)two days but the smoke is still there during and after the rain ends. Plenty of breeze but it's so smokey I can't see beyond about a mile, if that.
jmowreader
(50,559 posts)suffragette
(12,232 posts)nolabear
(41,984 posts)suffragette
(12,232 posts)to crank up and we still have the smoke.
Like most here, I don't have air conditioning so I'll have the windows open and the fans on.
Very grateful that I bought an air purifier during last year's smoke storm. At least it helps a bit.
suffragette
(12,232 posts)nolabear
(41,984 posts)Apparently you can tie a filter to a window fan and it filters out 90% of what comes in but I imagine those are selling out. Local weather guys are recommending it.
suffragette
(12,232 posts)Bet you are glad to have that window ac!
I dont have window fans. I have two Vornado fans. They cost a bit more, but they last and on the low setting they are extremely quiet and approximate a natural breeze. Ive had the 1st one for @ 15 years and it still works fine.
My air purifier is from the same company, since I figured the fans have done so well, it should too.
It does help. Heres the one I have:
https://www.vornado.com/shop/air-purifiers/ac350-true-hepa-air-purifier
Even though it stayed so warm last night, NWS Seattle is saying the temp should run 8- 10 degrees lower than expected today because of the smoke cover. So I should be able to close up for a bit after alll. Thank goodness.
Hekate
(90,708 posts)Dampen it.
nolabear
(41,984 posts)Demovictory9
(32,457 posts)Response to nolabear (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)FightingIrish
(2,716 posts)while my wife recovers from her injuries. Looking out the window of the hospital is surreal. Im originally from southern Oregon where they have been breathing air like this for three weeks. The entire northwest is choking. I guess not getting my daily bike ride may be a good thing for now.
mchill
(1,018 posts)Hope your wife will be ok?
Medford and Ashland have been quite bad for a month or more. I live 70 miles south and 35 mile north of the Carr and Hirz fires (over 200k acres together). Drove thru the epicenter on Saturday and it was awful, just awful. Enjoying the foggy cool air of the East Bag hills now after being cooped up for 3 weeks. Broke down and bought an air purifier last week.
The fuel moisture readings on the aforementioned fires are worse than the catastrophic fire in Yellowstone.
pnwmom
(108,980 posts)It sounded like such an ordeal. I hope it's going well.
FightingIrish
(2,716 posts)Today is her 14th day here. We have heard rumors of getting discharged today. She is getting exceptional care at Harborview Medical Center. Her caregivers have been the most caring individuals I have ever encountered and they come from all over the world. She is having a much better day than Trump.
pnwmom
(108,980 posts)So does my suburban neighborhood for that matter.
There's been quite a change over the decades since we first moved to Seattle.
I'm glad you and your wife have been having a good experience after that traumatic event. Fingers crossed you get out today.
nolabear
(41,984 posts)Yeah, the PNW is a mess. I dont know what to think any more.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)I'm in Boulder, and I couldn't see the foothills the smoke was so thick. Took the dog for a 45 min walk, and it hurt my throat. This is just horrible!
defacto7
(13,485 posts)Response to defacto7 (Reply #31)
Name removed Message auto-removed
nolabear
(41,984 posts)I supposed thatll be the least of it, eh?
0rganism
(23,955 posts)a hazy orange hellscape as promoted by the apricot hellbeast. bestest weather ever. so much winning. who doesn't love seeing ash occasionally falling from the sky?
Hekate
(90,708 posts)Drug stores, too -- our stash is from CVS. Call around first, because they may be sold out. Keep checking.
We were fortunate that during the Thomas Fire a charity included some in what they were giving to evacuees like us. I am keeping what I still have in the pantry, by the meds.
I know I sound like a broken record, but try to get some stand alone air purifiers to move around the house. We got ours at Costco years ago, during the year of the Zaca Fire + Gap Fire + Jesusita Fire. Lots of particulate matter in the air.
Keep the windows shut. I know it's hot. If you don't have AC, use fans.
One final thing: keep an eye on your kids and elders for signs of respiratory distress. I went to see my allergist after the Gap Fire in the foothills immediately in back of my then-neighborhood -- based on my symptoms I thought a huge stash of poison oak must have burned off. I shared an elevator with a woman who was wheezing so badly it was scary -- and that was the fire as well.
I am so sorry. My heart hurts for you all.
nolabear
(41,984 posts)Only time Ive ever been thankful for my sensitivity to offgassing. I cannot be in a room with brand new paint and carpet, and recently refinished furniture. Years ago when I took a new office I bought a great filter and its coming in really handy these days. Im tbinking of getting one for my kids house. They have a one year old and I hate them all having to breathe this shit.
Hekate
(90,708 posts)nolabear
(41,984 posts)defacto7
(13,485 posts)All the person said was, wow thanks for that link. It was rather benign. Since it was auto removed the user probably said something bad somewhere else and all their posts were removed across the board.
samnsara
(17,622 posts)...Im on the other side of the Pass and last year...and this year.....no veggies in my garden because NO SUN!
nolabear
(41,984 posts)My veggies are struggling to ripen too. Wonder how the wine industry is being affected.
lame54
(35,292 posts)Except the smoke was on the inside