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Seattle has the worst air quality of any major city in the WORLD, lagging behind capitals in India and China due to wildfires – as iconic Mount Rainier becomes INVISIBLE behind a layer of smoke
- Seattle had the worst air quality of any city in the world on Wednesday and Thursday this week, beating the usual contenders for the smoggy crown like Beijing and Delhi.
- Seattle’s air quality index came in at a staggering 240 on Wednesday, which air quality monitoring website IQAir qualifies as ‘very unhealthy’
- Scenes from Seattle showed the skyline shrouded in gray smoke obscuring the sun and even nearby Mount Rainier
- The acidic air was caused by wildfires raging in the nearby Cascade Mountains, coupled with consecutive weeks of abnormally hot and dry weather in the region.
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Seattle had the worst air quality of any city in the world for two days in a row this week, beating notoriously polluted cities like Beijing and Delhi.
The city’s appalling air quality was caused by wildfires raging in the nearby Cascade Mountains, coupled with consecutive weeks of abnormally hot and dry weather in the region.
Smoke poured into the city streets, obscuring the sun and skyline, leaving even Mount Rainer completely shrouded in smoke and fog.
The view from the Seattle Space Needle was equally bleak, with most of the city lost behind an apocalyptic cloud of smoke during the day.
On Wednesday, Seattle’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 240, a level labeled “very unhealthy” by the air quality monitor IQAIR. Beijing clocked a relatively meager ‘unhealthy’ 167.
Many Seattle residents ventured out alone with masks on their faces, and the city was filled with the acrid smell of smoke, according to the report. Washington Post.
Seattle had the worst air quality of any city in the world on Wednesday and Thursday this week, beating the usual contenders for the smoggy crown like Beijing and Delhi.
Seattle’s air quality index came in at a staggering 240 on Wednesday, which air quality monitoring website IQAir qualifies as ‘very unhealthy’
The view from the Seattle Space Needle this morning (above) showed the entire city shrouded in a thick blanket of yellow smoke
The I-90 bridge is covered in smoke, as seen from East Point Viewpoint on Wednesday afternoon in Seattle
National Weather Service meteorologist Maddie Kristell said Seattle’s position at the top of the smog heap was a “shocking statistic.”
She said a continued high-pressure ridge near the city prevented vital storms from reaching the city and allowed droughts and fires to flourish.
“That ridge was very strong and it just couldn’t get through any difference in weather patterns,” Kristell said.
Washington state has been dealing with an unprecedented drought since June and also has to deal with months of unusually high temperatures.
Last Sunday, Seattle broke its record for this hottest day this late in the fall after a temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
Smoke and haze fill the skies over Beacon Hill and I-5 in Seattle
Scenes from Seattle showed the skyline shrouded in gray smoke obscuring the sun and even nearby Mount Rainier
Many Seattle residents ventured out alone with masks on their faces, and the city was filled with the acrid smell of smoke, according to the Washington Post.
The acidic air was caused by wildfires raging in the nearby Cascade Mountains, coupled with consecutive weeks of abnormally hot and dry weather in the region.
Seattle maintained its inglorious position at the top of the charts all Thursday.
Though Delhi, India took first place by nightfall – currently ruling Pakistan, Karachi – Seattle has maintained a steady second place.
As of midnight Thursday, Seattle clocked a 176 AQI, which IQAir considers “unhealthy.”
The website recommended closing windows to keep out the bad air, running air purifiers in doors, wearing masks outside and avoiding outdoor activities.
Rain is forecast to finally return to Seattle on Friday, which is expected to clear the smoke and return the air to safe quality.
On Wednesday, Seattle’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 240, a level labeled “very unhealthy” by the air quality monitor IQAIR. Beijing clocked a relatively meager ‘unhealthy’ 167
National Weather Service meteorologist Maddie Kristell told the Washington Post Seattle’s position at the top of the smog heap was a “shocking statistic”