ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Wildfire smoke that moved into north Georgia on Wednesday evening continues to create hazy skies and beautiful, colorful sunsets across the region!
Smoke Jet Stream(WANF)
The smoke is being drawn down from Canada by upper-level northwest winds — the same winds responsible for the pleasantly lower humidity we’ve also been enjoying. It’s a bit of a tradeoff, but thankfully, this pattern isn’t leading to air quality concerns at the surface.
Why is the smoke visible but not hazardous?
The wildfire smoke from Canada is traveling thousands of feet above the surface, which is why you can see the hazy conditions and notice the orange-tinted sunsets, but air quality remains good at ground level. The smoke is high enough in the atmosphere that it doesn’t pose air quality concerns.
North Georgia’s location makes us perfectly positioned to see some of this upper-level smoke as it drifts through our region, but the elevation of the smoke keeps it from becoming a health concern.
When does it clear?
Smoke Friday(WANF)
The hazy conditions will persist through the first part of Saturday as the northwest flow continues. However, improvement arrives late Saturday as a cold front pushes through north Georgia, ushering in fresher air and ending the smoke-filled skies.
Smoke Saturday(WANF)
Once that front moves through, the upper-level wind pattern will change, redirecting the smoke flow away from our area and clearing those hazy skies that have dominated the past couple of days.
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