Weekend Snow in WA Mountain Passes. Is Seattle Air Most Deadly?

I don't know about you, but I feel as though the weather is behaving a bit strangely.

Warmer than normal temperatures of late, and now bracing for a winter blast of cooler temps, snow in the mountains, and Seattle ranking at the top of the worst air quality in the world due to -- mid-October forest fires.

Seattle Air Quality Ranks Worst in the World in October

Yes, it's a strange year. Seattle ranks at the top of the list of the worst air in the world according to a report in USA Today. Obviously, the fires in the Cascade Mountains along with more recent fires which are raging in British Columbia, are accounting for the smoke and haze problem in the PNW.

I was in Seattle this past weekend for parent's weekend at the University of Washington. Radio reports Saturday morning as I was arriving in town, warned of poor air quality and recommended N-95 masks for those who were compromised from a respiratory standpoint, and who were planning to be outside for an extended period of time. Like, the Husky homecoming game against Arizona. It was very hazy indeed during the game and throughout the weekend in Seattle.

Warmer Than Normal Temps in Washington, Giving Way to More Normal, Colder Temps

Saturday at the Washington Husky game and Sunday at the Seattle Seahawks game I found myself actually sweating a bit. It's mid-October, and the temperature at one point during the Seahawks' victory over the Arizona Cardinals was 86 degrees. We may as well have been watching the game in Phoenix.

Don't get me wrong, we loved the glorious weather. I must admit, however, that it was more than a little alarming for it to have been so warm, and so smokey, due to late-season forest fires. Now, we see that temperatures are taking a dramatic turn downward, toward more normal levels, and we must cast aside the short sleeves and brace for cold winter temperatures in the Cascade Mountain Passes this weekend. Some family members are coming to Yakima from the westside this weekend and I'm warning them of the possibility of snow in the mountains. Frankly, that feels normal.