DENVER – Forecasters with the National Weather Service said Thursday that Coloradans should expect smoke from North American wildfires to persist in varying degrees through the early fall.
While some of the haze lifted briefly Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, the NWS says Colorado will see wildfire smoke return Thursday afternoon.
PHOTOS: Colorado State researchers fly into wildfire smoke to study impacts
A NWS meteorologist in Boulder said that winds are bringing the smoke from fires burning across the West, Pacific Northwest, and western Canada into Colorado. Satellite imagery shows how the smoke is traveling to the area.
Where's all the smoke coming from? The Primary source of smoke over the NW USA is originating from over 100 active wildfires in wrn Canada. Dozens of wildfires in N CA, OR & WA are also contributing. Smoky conditions of varying densities expected to persist thru early fall. #COwx pic.twitter.com/jSawN6xw5b
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) August 23, 2018
“Smoky conditions of varying densities are expected to persist through early fall,” the NWS Boulder said Thursday.
According to an HRRR model published by the NWS Pueblo Thursday, northwestern and northeastern Colorado will see the worst smoky conditions Thursday night into Friday morning.
Smoke is expected to return to southern CO tonight & Friday as predicted by the ESRL experimental HRRR model . Hazy skies (yellow-red colors) will return by Friday morning. Layer smoke loop runs from 6 AM Thu 8/23 through 6 PM Fri 8/24. #cowx pic.twitter.com/RAkIOzszk4
— NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) August 23, 2018
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said the smoke could worsen late Monday into next Tuesday and that “unusually sensitive people” should consider staying inside.
Scientists and researchers from Colorado State University have been leading the WE-CAN smoke sampling team. The group is based in Boise, Idaho and has been flying through western wildfire smoke this summer to study how the smoke's composition and how it impacts air quality. Click here to view pictures of the flights.
For more on the state’s air quality forecast for the next few days, click here.