SMOKE

As the wildfire blazes, Lexington has some of the worst air quality in the area on Friday, falling into the hazardous category.

Temperatures are warm until November starts

The Matts Creek wildfire continues to spread, causing poor air quality in parts of our area.

Three studies show smoke from Canadian wildfires led to a spike in people with asthma visiting emergency rooms in the United States.

The outdoors will be perfect today. Temperatures will be moderate, skies will be clear, and the air will be crisp.

Smoke thousands of feet above us shouldn't play a major role on air quality Tuesday

Expect more stormy and smoky episodes throughout the summer, partially due to El Niño

Air quality won't be as poor as it was Monday afternoon

A Weather Authority Alert Day has been issued for Monday, July 17, 2023, due to haze and air quality across the region. The alert is set to expire at 9 p.m., and this article will be updated with the latest information throughout the evening.

Smoky skies overhead. They will last through the middle of the week and our air quality will start to improve little by little through the end of Tuesday.

Smoky skies return tonight. They will last through the middle of the week once rain chances return. Our air quality will gradually decline overnight tonight, and then will improve little by little by Wednesday.

A marginal risk is in effect for all of our zones today, a level 1/5 risk for severe weather. Stay weather aware out there, and keep safe.

Today will be fairly nice for most of us. Partly cloudy skies will build in through the day, and the chance to see a stray shower exists. Stay safe out there and enjoy the holiday if you can.

Air quality gradually improves as scattered storm clusters move in from the west.

Air quality gradually improves as scattered storm clusters move in from the west.

Air quality gradually improves as scattered storm clusters move in from the west.

Air quality gradually improves as scattered storm clusters move in from the west

Smoke will lead to poor air quality at times again Thursday before leaving late Friday

Air quality in Roanoke was deemed unhealthy by nightfall on Wednesday.

Much of the weekend's weather will cooperate with our plans

An Air Quality Alert is in effect for parts of the Roanoke Valley Thursday.

We get a brief break from the smoke Wednesday before it returns Thursday

One weak front makes a difference in our weather starting Wednesday

Fires have burned more than 1,800 square miles in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan

Hazy, hot and breezy weather is on tap Friday

Most of the area will see high temperatures in the low to mid 90s Wednesday afternoon

Spotty storms likely won't be enough to completely get rid of the smoky haze this weekend

Air quality continues to be poor for the southern half of the area Thursday

Wildfire smoke leads to hazy sunshine for most of the week, especially Wednesday.

Smoke filters out the sunlight, giving it a distinct orange and red appearance

Temperatures continue to rise despite an increase in haze through at least Wednesday

Smoke scatters sunlight, leading to a red-orange sunrise and sunset in our area

CHATHAM, Va. – 10:30 p.m. UpdateThe fire is out at a Pittsylvania County manufacturer as hazmat crews begin to investigate. Pittsylvania County Public Safety Director, Chris Slemp confirmed that there were no injuries in the fire. Ad3:49 p.m. UpdateThe fire at the Tightsqueeze Industrial Park is approximately 90% contained and the chemical smoke has slowed considerably, according to Pittsylvania County Public Safety. 2:23 p.m. UpdateCrews have contained an industrial fire in Pittsylvania County, but officials said its smoke can still cause damage. AdJust before 1:40 p.m., Pittsylvania County Public Safety issued a warning regarding a fire at the Tightsqueeze Industrial Park.

ROANOKE, Va. – As we wrote about Tuesday, smoke from the wildfires out west made its way to our sky. This, thankfully, has not had a negative impact on our health or air quality. It is, however, creating more haze in the sky and preventing us from heating up much. The smoke particles are also enough to block out a portion’s of the sun’s light, which creates for an eerie and odd-looking sunset. Several of your pictures in the gallery below show that.

ROANOKE, Va. Passengers on a flight heading to Philadelphia from Roanoke were evacuated due to smoke in the cockpit, according to a Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport spokesperson. Smoke was found in the cockpit of American Airlines flight 4873 as it was preparing to take off, and the passengers were evacuated, according to Bradley Boettcher, director of marketing and air service development. Boettcher says the incident closed a runway, but it has since been reopened.

Can you get the coronavirus from secondhand smoke? Secondhand smoke isnt believed to directly spread the virus, experts say, but infected smokers may blow droplets carrying the virus when they exhale. You should steer clear of secondhand smoke regardless. Breathing in secondhand smoke from cigarettes can cause various health problems, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More Viral Questions:Can the coronavirus spread through the air?

Fire was set to a number of establishments, and the smoke from these fires is being seen on weather radar displays. That's a smoke plume from the fires in Gatlinburg. Smoke from Minneapolis radar after firesThe top half of the picture shows reflectivity, which is the radar product that commonly detects precipitation and precipitation types. This is a product called correlation coefficient that will differentiate between rain drops and “non-hydrometeors,” or things that aren’t rain. The streak of blue falls in line with the weak echoes on reflectivity, indicating that this is indeed smoke being lofted into the air.