Photos by Paul Delaney In the span of about 24 hours between Aug. 20 (left) and Aug. 21, air quality readings across the area were the worst in the country due to wildfire smoke trapped by a stubborn high pressure ridge. Photos above are of downtown Cheney at those times and show the difference between a reading of nearly 400 and 126 on the air quality index.
On Monday, Aug. 20, a news headline appeared on social media from local television stations that was worth a double-take.
"Spokane air quality improves to unhealthy," it said.
Quite an odd accomplishment to be the best of the worst. But in the span of 24 hours, as predicted by retired Eastern Washington University geography and meteorological professor Bob Quinn, the blue skies reappeared, kinda' at least, and the Pacific Northwest is on to much better air.
And maybe an early peek at autumn?
Quinn, a noted long-range forecaster, seems pretty confident that, "We're done with our hot, hot, hot w...
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