Some Smoke Returns, But Nice Weather Ahead: Puget Sound Forecast

SEATTLE — Many in the Seattle area awoke Monday to the familiar scent of wildfires as offshore flow carried smoke from the Bolt Creek Fire over the region, which mixed down to the surface and degraded air quality in portions of King and Snohomish counties.

Fire officials estimate the blaze, which ignited north of Skykomish on Sept. 10, has burned more than 10,000 acres and was approximately 79 percent contained Monday afternoon.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency forecasts air quality from the "moderate" to "unhealthy for sensitive groups" range over the next few days. Air quality readings Monday showed the worst impacts to Seattle's north, hitting the "unhealthy" range around Bothell and Snohomish.

"We expect winds to shift later in the day and clear things out a bit, but it's not clear how much of an improvement we'll see," the agency wrote Monday. "The pattern should change by [Thursday] when clouds move in with a chance of rain on Friday."

Apart from any lingering smoke impacts, the week ahead promises some beautiful weather. The National Weather Service forecasts plenty of sunshine through Thursday, with afternoon highs landing comfortably in the mid-to-low 70s.

"Temps in the near term will see some slight warming between [Monday] and Tuesday, lower to mid 70s for highs today, mid to upper 70s [Monday]," forecasters said Monday. "Onshore flow will knock daytime highs down a little Wednesday with temps generally in the lower to mid 70s once more."

Thursday and Friday are forecast to run slightly cooler, failing to hit 70 around Seattle, as clouds return. Friday will offer a shot at some rain before things clear up for another sunny weekend.

Here is the five-day weather outlook for the Seattle area:

• Tuesday: 74°/52° (Sunny)
• Wednesday: 74°/56° (Sunny)
• Thursday: 69°/56° (Partly sunny/PM clouds)
• Friday: 66°/53° (Chance of rain)
• Saturday: 68°/52° (Mostly sunny)