Even though temperatures are supposed to climb back into the 80s, the sunshine may be blocked by hazy skies to end May.
Why is it hazy in Iowa?
Iowa’s hazy skies are due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. As many as 17,000 people in Canada are being evacuated as hundreds of thousands of acres are scorched, according to USA TODAY.
Where in Iowa is experiencing the most haze?
Hazy skies will be especially prevalent in the eastern two-thirds of the state, said Des Moines National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Zogg. Iowans could even get a smell of smoke from the wildfires.
“The smoke may lead to some reduced visibility and the smell of smoke,” Zogg said. “The better chance of that is going to be on Saturday, but definitely could happen (May 30) as well.”
Where are the wildfires in Canada?
In Saskatchewan, active blazes burned 696,000 acres while 173,000 acres have burned in Manitoba, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. A total of nearly 1.5 million acres have burned across the two provinces so far this year, according to the fire center.
How long will it be hazy in Iowa?
The smoke up north has started to drift south and will continue to do so over the weekend on May 30 and May 31. The haze is expected to start to clear out of Iowa by June 1.
“It looks like it will probably clear out toward Sunday as the upper level winds shift,” Zogg said.
Reporting contributed by Michael Loria.
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Why is it hazy? Iowans may see, smell smoke from Canada wildfires this weekend
Reporting by Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
