Yes, it was blissfully cool this morning on the Front Range after a run of 100-degree temperatures, but it was not cool and crisp. It was cool and distinctly hazy, as wildfire smoke flows in from Oregon and Washington state fires and combines with higher than usual moisture accumulating above Colorado.
The state’s “Smoke Blog” warns “the Air Quality Health Advisory that was issued Monday morning for several counties has been expanded. In addition to the communities we mentioned in the last blog post below, places like Rifle, Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Fairplay, Cañon City, Colorado Springs and Pueblo will also be impacted by periods of moderate to heavy smoke. Please take action to protect your health from wildfire smoke.
“The northern Front Range region will not be spared,” the state health department’s blog continues. “A cold front is pushing towards northeastern Colorado. That cold front will likely bring smoke with it from Wyoming and western Nebraska. Be prepared for smoke to increase again tonight in Greeley, Fort Collins and southward into the Denver metro area. Along with increased particle pollution, the smoke could also enhance ozone across the northern Front Range during the afternoons and evenings.”
9News weather ace Chris Bianchi sent out new warnings Tuesday morning on his social media, saying “Lots of smoke from both the Widemouth 2 (Utah) and Pacific Northwest this morning. Air quality is moderate for now, and it’ll probably get worse this afternoon.”
The state blog says heavier smoke “will move southward into Colorado Monday night with a cold front. The upper level winds will likely continue to transport smoke in the direction of Colorado over the next few days, so please remain alert to rapidly changing air quality conditions in your area.”
The Colorado air quality page says “Increasing wildfire smoke will result in fine particulate concentrations reaching the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category throughout the northern Front Range region. Additionally, ozone could reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category Tuesday afternoon and evening.”