Hazy skies over Chicago are due to smoke from West Coast wildfires. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
It’s a sunny day in Chicago, so why does it still look cloudy?
According to the National Weather Service, smoke from the West Coast wildfires drifted into northern Illinois on Sunday and will persist through Monday.
It shouldn’t impact the weather, but it will filter the sun and create a milky white or gray appearance.
So far, 35 people have died from the fires in California, Oregon and Washington, which have been raging since August. According to California fire officials, the 2020 fire season has been record breaking, with more than 3 million acres burned. Six of the top 20 largest wildfires in California history have occurred this year, officials said.
Late in the day Sunday, smoke from western U.S. fires had drifted over northern IL and northwest IN and this will continue through today. This is expected to remain aloft so no impacts are forecast, but the sky will have a milky white or even gray appearance to it. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/SVtxnE0NCB
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) September 14, 2020
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
