Hazy With a Chance of Wildfire Smoke

Today:

An otherwise sunny and pleasant June day will be marred by hazy skies and poor air quality. This is thanks to a stalled upper-level low pressure system over New England causing the prevailing winds to carry wildfire smoke from Canada into the Mid-Atlantic region. Most of the smoke is elevated (as in high in the sky), causing the sky to appear a milky gray color, as you may have seen yesterday. However, some smoke will make it to the surface, causing the NWS to initiate an Air Quality Alert for the region today. This indicates that air quality will be poor and make it unhealthy for sensitive groups to be outside. Try to avoid strenuous exercise outside today if you can. Otherwise, should be a quiet day weather-wise with high temps in the low 80s and a light northwest breeze at 6-8 mph.   

Vertically integrated smoke density via the RAP model, showing dense smoke over much of the Northeast U.S. at 2 p.m. today. (Image via NOAA)

Tonight:

Not much change in the weather heading into the overnight hours, though it might smell like a barbeque outside. The light northwesterly breeze continues as the low temps dip into the upper 50s. 

Tomorrow (Thursday): 

It is difficult to say how long the wildfire smoke will stick around and how thick it’ll be, as slight changes in wind directions can make all the difference. That being said, the upper level low looks to stick around a little while longer, meaning hazy skies may very well be in play for Thursday as well. Otherwise, mostly clear skies are expected all day with a high temperature once again around 80, and a light northerly breeze. 

Tomorrow Night: 

Clouds increase and very slight chance of precipitation is in play early in the evening, although nothing too major is expected. Temperatures cool off into the mid 50s as winds remain light out of the northwest.  

 

Featured image via NOAA.