For the second weekend in a row, Central Oregon endured unhealthy air quality levels as smoke from wildfires burning across Oregon and California poured over the Cascades into the High Desert — and the smoke is continuing.

The air quality index in downtown Bend on Monday at 7 a.m. reached 184. On Sunday at 10 p.m. the index was even higher, at 210. Air-quality levels between 151 and 200 are considered “unhealthy” while levels between 201 and 300 are “very unhealthy.”

Health officials recommend staying indoors and using fans or air conditioning when smoke levels are elevated. Exposure to poor air quality can have health impacts for children, the elderly and individuals with heart or lung conditions. When the index rises above 201, the health impacts are elevated for everyone.

Regional air pollution soared

Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver and La Pine were also hit by high levels of air pollution on Sunday and Monday. In Sisters on Sunday, the air quality reached 245 while La Pine saw levels jump above 280 on both Saturday and Sunday. Further east, Burns has been ground zero for poor air quality, with the air quality soaring over 450 on Saturday. Levels over 301 are considered “hazardous” and prompt a health warning of emergency conditions.

Smoke impacting Central Oregon is coming in from multiple fires burning across Western states, said Jaimie Olle, a spokesperson for the Deschutes National Forest. As of Monday morning, firefighters were working to contain around 55 wildfires burning in Oregon and Washington. Other large fires have erupted in California, including the massive Park Fire, which has burned 368,000 acres in less than a week.

On Monday the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued air quality advisories for seven counties including Deschutes and Jefferson. The advisory is in effect until further notice.

Smoke outlook

Rob Brooks, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pendleton, said shifting winds are pushing smoke toward Central Oregon from multiple directions. The forecast for smoke is mixed in the days ahead.

“Today through Tuesday morning, multiple waves will move across and possibly scrub some smoke and haze out,” said Brooks.

“Unfortunately by Wednesday, the smoke may start to fill back in as the high pressure builds back in and presses the smoke back down into the valleys.”

While cooler temperatures prevailed on Monday with a high of 79 degrees at Bend Municipal Airport and some light rain, the hot and dry weather is expected to return later this week. Temperatures are expected to be in the high 90s on Thursday and Friday, according to the weather service.

The largest fire in the state, the Durkee Fire in Eastern Oregon, has burned 288,690 acres and is 49% contained. Other large fires burning in the region include:

• The 16,978-acre Crazy Creek Fire, at 0% containment, is burning 7 miles south of Mitchell.

• The 142,307-acre Falls Fire, with containment at 69%, is burning 25 miles northwest of Burns.

• The 1,452-acre Ore Fire, at 29% containment, is located 7 miles northeast of Blue River.

• The Oakridge Lightning Fires is the name given to seven fires burning in the Willamette National Forest near the city of Oakridge. They include the 3,616-acre Chalk Fire, at 7% containment, and the 2,761-acre Coffeepot Fire, at 0% containment.