Many people in central and northern Montana got some relief over the weekend from smoky skies caused by wildfires in western Montana, Idaho, and Washington. The National Weather Service reports that the visibility at the Pasco airport decreased to four miles on Monday. The alert had been expected to expire Monday afternoon.
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In northeastern Oregon, the air quality forecast is “Unhealthy” through at least Wednesday for Baker City and La Grande. “There’s lots of different things that can occur when the air quality is poor, just from your body having inflammation from the exposure”, said Dr. Burnett.
Avoid outdoor activities, especially vigorous activities, when air quality is unhealthy and hazardous.
“Bottom line, when it is this bad I would either not go out or take your workout indoors”, said Erickson, who also coaches endurance athletes in Bend for Athlete Wise Performance Coaching.
Umatilla County’s air quality fluctuates throughout the day from “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange)” to “Good (green)”.
According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, during the recent conditions of unhealthy air quality, everyone should avoid spending time outdoors, as well as outdoor exercise like team sports.
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If you have a heart or lung disease, if you are an older adult, or if you have children, talk with your doctor about whether, and when, you should leave the area.
