Have you noticed the hazy skies this week? You’re not alone.
Massive wildfires raging in the western states and Canada have produced large amounts of smoke across the U.S.
What You Need To Know
- Wildfires have raged across the western states with 79 active large fires
- An upper-air pattern is carrying smoke across the United States
- Expect hazy skies, vivid sunsets and reduced air quality
The smoke plumes from these wildfires have moved across the Lower 48, producing hazy skies, vivid sunsets and poor air quality, impacting those who have lung and breathing ailments.
In fact, Thursday morning areas as far east as North Carolina fell under an Air Quality Alert, meaning sensitive groups needed to minimize time outdoors because of the smoke from the western fires.
But why is the smoke traveling thousands of miles? You have to look at the upper levels of the atmosphere.
Fast-moving winds where jets fly have carried the smoke across the country. The cause of this is due to an upper-high centered over the interior west.
Upper-highs have fast-moving winds that rotate clockwise. These are good carriers of the small, light particles of wildfire smoke, and have transported it into areas not seeing wildfires.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 79 active large fires that have burned close to 1.5 million acres.
We expect that smoke to stick around through the end of the week.
While the smoke reduces air quality, it creates vivid sunsets and sunrises.
This happens because smoke scatters shorter wavelengths of light, allowing longer wavelengths to pass through the smoke.
The longer wavelengths are orange and red, hence the colorful sunsets and sunrises when smoke is in the atmosphere.
Take a look at some of the colorful skies across this country this week.
