This August is one of the few times I've seen a local weather report forecasting "smoke". Wildfires in the southern half of British Columbia, combined with winds, have created a haze unlike anything I've seen. Typical views are washed out, air quality reduced, and the sun appears red in the sky. 

Despite the haze, the Port of Everett operates a small, free ferry daily to Jetty Island, a sandy oasis for residents in these summer months. The manmade jetty, a breakwater that protects the port from tides and currents, was built up beginning in the late 1900s. Nature trails, volleyball courts, kiteboarding launches lace the islands. The shallow western shore every-so-gently slopes into the sound, creating another weather-related phenomenon for our area: warm ocean water. 

Elizabeth is an award winning Everett, Washington-based freelance artist and graphic designer. Using pen and watercolor, she sketches from life and creates 'illustrative infographics,' often featuring Northwest themes.