WASHINGTON, DC — A vast smoke plume originating from wildfires in the Pacific Northwest is now streaming across the entire country, stretching from the Great Lakes region all the way to Washington, DC. Satellite tracking shows the smoke trail extending coast to coast, with the densest concentrations moving through the Upper Midwest before spreading toward the Mid-Atlantic.
Air Quality Remains Moderate as Smoke Stays Aloft
Most of the smoke currently moving across the country is aloft, keeping ground-level air quality in the moderate category for now. Air Quality Index readings are expected to range between 60 and 120 over the next 48 hours across the affected corridor, though major air quality issues are not anticipated at this time.
Some of the smoke may begin drifting closer to the ground this evening into Monday morning, a trend that will be closely monitored across communities beneath the smoke trail, including areas in the Great Lakes region and toward the East Coast.
Vivid Sunrises and Sunsets Expected Sunday and Monday
The most noticeable effect of the smoke for residents across the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions will likely be strikingly vivid, fiery-colored sunrises and sunsets on both Sunday and Monday, a common visual result of smoke particles scattering sunlight in the atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the source wildfires burning in Washington state continue to grow, sending a separate, dense smoke plume northward into Canada. Conditions across the Pacific Northwest remain active as fire activity persists, with downstream smoke effects expected to continue affecting air quality and visibility across much of the eastern United States through the coming days…