Smoke Again Enters Western Oregon but Only for a Day

Published 08/13/2026 at 7:15 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Portland, Oregon) - Look for smokey skies in western Oregon again, starting today. While it may get to the unhealthy range for some in the afternoon, the effects won't last long or reach the coast. (Oregon Coast Beach Connection photo)

Air alerts are still in effect for the usual smoke-laden areas of Washington and Oregon, but not for most areas west of the Cascades. A variety of red flag warnings are still plaguing south central Oregon and central Washington.

Smoky skies are expected to return to western Oregon beginning today, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Portland. Forecasters say easterly winds will redevelop across the region, including near the Grasshopper Fire, allowing wildfire smoke to drift into northwest Oregon and southwest Washington by Thursday afternoon.

“Can't rule out some of this smoke mixing down to the surface as well,” the NWS said. “However, this smoke is expected to be short-lived as winds from the west return Thursday night into Friday morning and push smoke eastward and clear the air once again.”

The NWS said they're not expecting precipitation, but they say that lingering moisture to the north may support a 10 to 15 percent chance of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon across the far northern portion of the south Washington Cascades.

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There's a lot of chance of rainfall until next week, when it then becomes a possibility but nothing certain.

This would be a massive relief to fire-fighting efforts or at least simmer down the current fire conditions.

Much of the Oregon coast lingers around the 70-degree mark throughout the next week and stays in slightly cloudy territory. It gets some rain on Monday.

Next week, much of the inland areas of both states get into the 80s.

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