Keep an eye on Western Washington air quality during this week's heat wave

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is cautioning sensitive groups to watch the air quality this week as temperatures rise into the 90s. Heat waves can cause smog levels to rise.

As of Tuesday afternoon, most of Western Washington's air quality was "good," with some pockets of "moderate" levels.

Also, as KUOW's John Ryan points out, smoke from wildfires in British Columbia is drifting down into Washington state. Whatcom County has already caught a whiff of the smoke, which is expect to float as far as Olympia.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is noting that air quality is lowering a little, amid the heat, saying some areas are "unhealthy for sensitive groups." It has issued an ozone advisory for the Cascade Foothills, particularly eastern parts of King and Pierce Counties, such as Issaquah or Enumclaw.

According to the advisory: "The Puget Sound region is currently experiencing an excessive heat warning. Temperatures will be high, so take precautions to stay cool. The high temperatures will produce significant spikes in ozone (smog) levels in the afternoon, reaching levels that are UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS in the Cascade foothills of King and Pierce counties, particularly Issaquah east, North Bend, and Enumclaw."

More updates on KUOW's Today So Far Blog.