Durango’s hazy skies Monday morning can be attributed to the large fires burning in California, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
Dennis Phillips, a meteorologist for the NWS, said a high-pressure system over the northwestern states is funneling smoke from active fires clockwise into the Southwest.
According to a federal database there are more than 10 fires in California. The largest, the Carr Fire, has burned more than 100,000 acres and claimed six lives. The fire is just 20 percent contained as of Monday morning.
Hazy conditions likely to continue over the area through the next few days with several large fires over the West and other small fires closer to home. #cowx #utwx pic.twitter.com/oDhELvhSqR
— NWS Grand Junction (@NWSGJT) July 30, 2018
Additionally, more than 10 fires are burning throughout Oregon and Washington.
Phillips said the smoke is not from fires burning closer to Durango near Dolores in Montrose.
“Those fires are not large enough to disperse that kind of smoke yet,” he said.
Smoke from fires in the northwest should continue for at least the week, and possibly longer.
“With all these fires in the West right now, it may stay hazy for a while,” Phillips said. “If we get some rain, that could help, but otherwise it’ll stay hazy given how active the West is right now.”
The 416 Fire north of Durango, and the Burro Fire, near Dolores, have been tempered by rain in recent weeks and are not emitting smoke.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
