Update: 100+ temperatures in Tri-Cities forecast. Skies could stay smoky

The Tri-Cities was predicted to swelter under triple-digit temperatures this week after a summer that to date has only had two days with temperatures that reached the 100s.

Not only are days forecast to be hotter than usual this week, even for July, but overnight lows also will be warm, with the first overnight lows of the year in the 70s forecast, according to National Weather Service data.

That can present a danger to people who don’t have a place to cool down at night to let their bodies recover from the daytime heat.

The heat wave was expected to start Tuesday, when a high of 100 was forecast by the weather service. But as of 5:30 p.m. the temperature had only reached 94 under a hazy sky.

However, a heat advisory remains in effect until 9 p.m. Thursday with highs of 103 forecast for Wednesday and 102 for Thursday.

Friday should be only slightly cooler with a high of 99, but then a gradual cooling to a high of 89 by Tuesday is forecast by the weather service.

Tuesday night a low of 71 was predicted, followed by a low of 73 on Wednesday night.

But Thursday night the low should drop to 69 and then overnight lows should gradually cool to 64 by Monday night, according to the weather service.

Normal highs for this week in July are about 94 degrees and normal lows are about 58.

The two hottest days of the summer in the Tri-Cities before this week have been July 7 and 16 with highs of 101, but there was more overnight cooling then. On July 7 the overnight low was a cool 54 and on July 16 it was 67.

Tri-Cities area cooling centers include the Mid-Columbia and Richland libraries; Columbia Center Mall in Kennewick; the Richland Community Center; the Tri-City Union Gospel Mission’s men’s and women’s shelters in Pasco; and Becky’s Coffee Corner and Renz Farmers Insurance Agency in Prosser.

Smoky air

The Tri-Cities area also has choked under a blanket of smoke this week, with air in the Tri-Cities and nearby rated at times this week as “unhealthy” or “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

The weather service and Benton Clean Air Agency issued an air quality alert through 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Smoke has mostly been coming from fires started by lightning strikes in the Oregon Cascade Mountains, but Eastern Washington fires near the Tri-Cities also have contributed to the pollution.

At 5 p.m. Tuesday the Tri-Cities air was rated as “satisfactory.”

But smoky air from wildfires often starts to worsen as the sun sets in the Tri-Cities and an inversion traps smoke close to the ground, with the smokiest air usually early to mid-morning.

The Benton Clean Air Agency said pollutants in smoke can cause eyes to burn and noses to run and can aggravate heart and lung disease.

Those most sensitive to air pollution include older adults, children and babies, pregnant women and those with chronic health conditions, including heart and respiratory issues such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.

But everyone should limit outdoor activities when smoke is trapped near ground level in the Tri-Cities, according to the clean air agency.

It recommends closing windows in your home and using the “recirculation” switch on air conditioners. Use an indoor air filter, if available.

Face masks rated as N95 or N100 can also provide protection from smoky air.