Sunshine and clouds mixed. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. High near 95F. Winds light and variable..
A clear sky. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: August 5, 2026 @ 12:26 pm
Dutch Bros Hood River location was temporarily closed Wednesday morning due to poor air quality. Hood River was listed at 376 AQI at 11:15 a.m., and The Dalles at 168, by the National Weather Service.
Trisha Walker photo
Has your business had to temporarily close due to smoke and poor air quality? Email us with your story at news@gorgenews.com.
Trisha Walker photoTHE GORGE — The Grasshopper Fire, burning in Wasco and Hood River counties and caused by lightning on July 23, is expected to remain active today, Aug. 5. So far, it has burned an estimated 39,439 acres and is 19% contained.
Smoky conditions are expected to continue this morning and gradually improve as easterly winds both calm and shift westerly later today.
The U.S. Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program (outlooks.airfire.org) is reporting that the AQI — or air quality index — is expected to remain elevated. The Highway 35 corridor between Rhododendron and Parkdale is marked “Hazardous” this morning, but could see a “slight recovery” to “unhealthy” today before returning to “hazardous” overnight.
“This may reduce visibility along the road, especially early in the morning,” said U.S. Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program in a press release. “Hood River and The Dalles can expect to see AQI levels average ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ over the next 24 hours. Areas west and south of the fire, including Tygh Valley and Maupin, will reach ‘hazardous’ this morning before returning to ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ to ‘unhealthy’ during this afternoon and evening.”
Regional smoke should clear out by tomorrow morning, with the Highway 35 corridor and areas immediately east of the fire seeing the main impacts.
Check the Fire and Smoke Map for current Air Quality conditions. Learn more at Oregon DEQ's WebPage.
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