Storm Tracker: No significant rain in the forecast
SEATTLE (AP) — The summer dry spell in Washington is likely to continue into the first week of fall.
The National Weather Service says there's no significant rain in the forecast in the state for the next seven days.
Eastern Washington residents will have to wait longer for the showers needed to douse wildfires that have burned tens of square miles around Wenatchee and Yakima.
Meteorologist Art Gaebel at the weather service office in Seattle says there's a chance of storms Tuesday in the mountains but they could make things worse if dry lightning starts more wildfires.
The state's stretch of dry weather started after the Fourth of July. The pattern to wet Northwest weather typically shifts any time from the end of September to mid-November.
Air Stagnation Advisory for Yakima and Kittitas Counties
An Air Stagnation Advisory is now in effect until 5 PM PDT Thursday for the Yakima and Kittitas Valleys. A ridge of high pressure in the middle and upper levels of the troposphere will produce sinking air aloft and light surface winds, which will result in stagnant air conditions through Thursday afternoon in the Yakima and Kittitas Valleys. In addition, a surface based temperature inversion will concentrate smoke and other air pollution near the surface at night and in the morning. Smoke from regional wildfires may filter into the advisory areas and be near the surface, especially at night due to the inversion. This may reduce air quality in the Kittitas and Yakima Valleys through Thursday afternoon.
