It's not overcast this along the Front Range this week, it's wildfire smoke. How long will it be sticking around? 

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You may have noticed you can't see the Rocky Mountains to the west, and have probably spotted the bright red sun at sunset. It's because of wildfires burning mostly in other states creating a heavy haze over Colorado. The National Weather Service said that the Front Range is under a 'plume' of smoke from wildfires in Northern California, Idaho and Oregon. CBS4 reported that additionally, the Morgan Creek Fire near Steamboat is currently over 3,000 acres and is zero-percent contained.

Until at least 4 p.m. on Tuesday, the Front Range has an Ozone Action Day alert.

'Very warm and stagnant weather conditions combined with abundant wildfire smoke in the atmosphere will result in ozone concentrations reaching the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category,' Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said.

CDPHE also said that out-of-state fires will impact Colorado on Tuesday, but the likelihood of afternoon storms, which we haven't had much of recently, will help improve the air quality for the rest of the week. So, after Tuesday, our skies should clear up.

Last summer into the fall, Northern Colorado had extremely smoky days due to the Cameron Peak Fire west of Fort Collins, burning for over 100 days, and eventually the East Troublesome Fire burning simultaneously.

Over Labor Day Weekend 2020, the foothills virtually vanished from sight in Downtown Fort Collins. CDPHE says that if 'visibility is less than five miles... in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.'

2020 Cameron Peak Fire

 

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