It’s chilly, but at least we’re not choking on wildfire smoke. Across Canada and the United States, 2025 is on target to be the smokiest year since 2023, which set records for poor air quality.
I’m not a doctor, and I don’t play one on TV, but evidence suggests there is no such thing as a “safe level” of wildfire smoke inhalation. PM2.5 is the biggest risk, fine particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers, about 1/30th the width of a human hair — small enough to bypass your nose and throat and become lodged in your lungs or bloodstream. It poses the most risk to kids, the elderly, pregnant women, and people suffering from asthma, COPD and heart disease. Global health agencies advise minimizing exposure whenever you can.
Fires are raging over the Pacific Northwest and Canada so no guarantees how long we’ll remain smoke-free.
More instability showers arrive Saturday afternoon, but next week will be sunnier and milder. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts shows nearly a week of 80-plus temperatures by mid-September. We haven’t seen the last of summer. Nope.
