Wildfire smoke is turning skies gray across western Colorado, already beginning to hit Denver, and forecasters say the haze could continue spreading much farther east.
What’s happening?
According to reports fromCBS News Colorado, fires growing more intense in eastern Utah and western Colorado are sending smoke into mountain communities. The heaviest impacts are expected in western and northwestern Colorado but are already reaching the Denver area.
The latest Colorado state air quality reporting shows wildfire smoke or air quality warnings across nearly the entire state.
Communities including Telluride, Montrose, Delta, Grand Junction, Gunnison, Aspen, Eagle, Glenwood Springs, Meeker, Craig, Steamboat Springs, and Walden could go through periods of especially dense smoke and haze. Travel may also become more difficult for drivers, particularly between Fruita and Mack, where smoke is expected to hang over western Colorado and reduce visibility.
Why does it matter?
Wildfire smoke can irritate the eyes and throat, trigger coughing, and make it harder to breathe — especially for children, seniors, pregnant people, and people with asthma, COPD, or other heart and lung conditions…