Current:Home > InvestThe Western Wildfires Are Affecting People 3,000 Miles Away -MarketStream
The Western Wildfires Are Affecting People 3,000 Miles Away
View
Date:2025-04-18 15:30:41
Smoke traveling from the Western wildfires is reaching all the way across the U.S., bringing vibrant red sunsets and moon glow to the East. But it's also carrying poor air quality and harmful health effects thousands of miles away from the flames.
Large fires have been actively burning for weeks across the Western U.S. and Canada. Currently, the largest in the U.S. is the Bootleg Fire in Oregon, which has now burned more than 600 square miles of land and become so large it generates its own weather.
For days, Eastern states have been trapped in a smoky haze originating from the fires across the nation. Smoke has settled over major cities nearly 3,000 miles from the fires, including Philadelphia and New York, and even in the eastern parts of Canada.
It's the second year in a row that smoke has traveled so far into the East. The sight has become normal during wildfire season as fires have become more intense, long lasting and dangerous because of climate change.
Julie Malingowski, an emergency response meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told NPR that smoke pushed high into the atmosphere at the location of the fires is now being pushed down onto Eastern states.
"We're seeing quite a bit of smoke near the surface level across parts of the Eastern U.S.," she said.
"Normally, as smoke moves further away from the active fire, the smoke tends to disperse into higher parts of the atmosphere, so it's not as thick at the surface," Malingowski said. But she said that this time an area of high pressure is pushing that smoke down toward the surface.
Air quality warnings spread across the East
The result has been a flurry of air quality warnings across Eastern states, including Connecticut and Maryland. The warnings range from orange to red — orange meaning sensitive groups are at risk of being affected, and red meaning all people living in the area are at risk.
Long-distance-traveling particulate matter is to blame. Microscopic particles called PM2.5 have been injected into smoke high into the atmosphere and have traveled with the wind to cities far away.
At 2.5 microns, the particles are small enough to enter human lungs. They worsen respiratory conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and can interfere with oxygen exchange, says Sheryl Magzamen, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Colorado State University.
PM2.5 can be especially dangerous when people far away from fires don't get warned, Magzamen told NPR.
"When that smoke is associated with a local fire, our research has actually shown that there are less hospitalizations and ER visits on average because people are protecting themselves from the smoke and fire," she said. "However, if you're far away from them ... there's not that same type of warning system, because you're not in any danger because of the fire."
Malingowski says the smoke is likely to stick around as long as the fires rage and the weather stays dry.
"As long as active fires are burning and high pressure remains across the central part of the United States, many locations will at least see some reduction of visibility in their environment east of the Rockies," she said.
"Once fire activity decreases and precipitation reenters the picture for places that are receiving this reduction in visibility due to smoke, then that will help to mitigate smoke impacts," she added.
Josie Fischels is an intern on NPR's News Desk.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom and More Stars Who Got Engaged or Married on Valentine's Day
- 3 deputies arrested after making hoax phone calls about dead bodies, warrants say
- Charges against Miles Bridges connected to domestic violence case dropped
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- City of Memphis releases new documents tied to Tyre Nichols’ beating death
- Is mint tea good for you? Health benefits of peppermint tea, explained.
- King Charles III Returns to London Amid Cancer Battle
- Small twin
- Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly suspended five games for cross-check to Senators' Ridly Greig
Ranking
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- College football coaching isn't nearing an apocalypse. It's changing, like every other job
- Love is in the air ... and the mail ... in the northern Colorado city of Loveland
- Activist sees ‘new beginning’ after Polish state TV apologizes for years of anti-LGBTQ propaganda
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- What is income tax? What to know about how it works, different types and more
- Amid artificial intelligence boom, AI girlfriends - and boyfriends - are making their mark
- Kansas City turns red as Chiefs celebrate 3rd Super Bowl title in 5 seasons with a parade
Recommendation
Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise, study finds
Gun violence killed them. Now, their voices will lobby Congress to do more using AI
How previous back-to-back Super Bowl winners fared going for a three-peat
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Kansas lawmakers look to increase penalties for harming police dogs
A radio station is now playing Beyoncé's country song after an outcry from fans
What is net pay? How it works, how to calculate it and its difference from gross pay