Northwest wildfire smoke spreads eastward, creating hazy skies across much of the United States

Smoke from a series of lightning-ignited wildfires in Oregon and Washington is moving eastward as the jet stream transports the plume across the country. The National Interagency Fire Center reports that over 30 large fires, primarily in Oregon, have burned nearly one million acres.

Air-quality monitors show very unhealthy conditions in Boise, Idaho, while moderate concerns persist in parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. The smoke is expected to remain aloft at 20,000 to 40,000 feet, limiting ground-level impacts but creating a milky appearance in the sky and more vivid sunrise and sunset colors.

Meteorologists note that the plume will likely reach the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast as it circulates around a broad heat dome over the central United States. Although the elevated smoke is not projected to cause hazardous surface-level air quality, it will continue to produce hazy skies far beyond the Northwest.