More Wildfire Smoke Over PA Wednesday, Bringing Hazy Skies

PHILADELPHIA — As wildfires burn large swaths of land on the West Coast, smoke from the massive fires continues to be carried all the way to the Philadelphia region.

Residents throughout the region reported hazy skies Monday and Tuesday as a result of the smoke.

The conditions will continue Wednesday, according to forecasters from the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly, N.J. Not only is the smoke causing a hazy sky and the sun to appear particularly orange, but it's also bringing temperatures down slightly, forecasters say.

The smoke "seems to be holding back our temperatures at least a couple degrees. We only reached the mid to upper 60s today," forecasters in Mt. Holly said.

The smoke is 25,000 feet in the atmosphere, and has been reported across the East Coast, including in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.

Michael Souza, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Virginia, told the New York Times the phenomenon is a result of "a perfect combination" of conditions, including the jet stream pattern and a high-pressure system over the Great Lakes.

NOAA/NASA satellites captured photos of smoke's cross country travel.

Along with the smoke, small particles suspended in the air are also moved along the jet stream, bringing hazardous air quality across the country, NASA explained. "Aerosols are a mixture of small particles and chemicals produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-containing materials such as trees, grasses, peat, brush, etc," NASA said.

More from NASA:

High aerosol concentrations not only can affect climate and reduce visibility, they also can impact breathing, reproduction, the cardiovascular system, and the central nervous system, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Since aerosols are able to remain suspended in the atmosphere and be carried in prevailing high-altitude wind streams, they can travel great distances away from their source as evidenced in these images and their effects can linger.

The fires along the West Coast have so far killed 35 people. More than 16,600 firefighters maintained footing against the 25 major wildfires and two extended attack wildfires burning across the smoky state Tuesday.

Due to unrelenting and critical fire weather, blazes burned actively Monday, challenging crews; however, firefighters were able to contain two large wildfires Monday while responding to 33 initial attack fires.

"With no significant precipitation in sight, California remains dry and ripe for wildfires," Cal Fire said Tuesday, noting scientific evidence for elevated climates this time of year.

Here are some photos taken across the Philadelphia region that show the smokey sky:

With reporting by Kara Seymour of Patch