Smoky Skies

Published: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 10:18 am

Smoky Skies Dim Sun, Offer Cooler Temperatures

Yesterday, an extraordinary plume of smoke painted the sky with a faded, reddish hue, creating an unusual visual spectacle. While the smoky conditions lent an eerie ambiance, they also served to temper the day's heat. Temperatures remained capped near 90 degrees, falling short of the mid-90s that had been anticipated.

The smoky influence is expected to persist, with more smoke present today, both at higher altitudes and closer to the ground. The smoke nearer the surface is responsible for the noticeable odor and has the potential to degrade air quality to levels unhealthy for sensitive individuals. This continued haze will also likely keep daytime highs in the mid-80s to around 90 degrees, again preventing a full ascent into the mid-90s. Aside from isolated shower activity, the day is forecast to be largely dry. A welcome drop in humidity is also anticipated this afternoon as winds shift to a more northwesterly direction. The smoke is expected to dissipate somewhat in the mid to late afternoon.

The smoky conditions are projected to continue intermittently through tonight and into tomorrow. Thursday is expected to feature more haze in the sky and, at times, a smoky aroma. Overall humidity levels will be lower, with temperatures settling in the mid to upper 80s. The day will conclude with scattered showers and storms. Looking ahead to Friday, conditions are expected to improve with brighter skies, very low humidity, and temperatures in the low to mid-80s. The upcoming weekend will see a return to more humid conditions, with partly sunny skies and a chance of scattered showers and storms.

BNN's Perspective: The persistent smoke, while visually striking and impacting air quality, has inadvertently provided a welcome respite from the expected heatwave. The cooler temperatures and dropping humidity offer a temporary but appreciated shift in weather patterns, though the return of more typical summer humidity and storm activity is on the horizon for the weekend.

Tags: smoke, hazy sky, reddish sun, cooler temperatures, high heat, mid 90s, mid 80s, air quality, unhealthy for sensitive groups, humidity, northwest winds, scattered showers, storms, brighter skies, low humidity, weekend, partly sunny

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