Weather Words: Smoke Haze

Have you ever seen a haze lingering in the sky, that might even have a reddish tint? It could be smoke haze. This type of haze likely not going to lift when temperatures warm, such as fog, and it’s definitely not a misty shower. Smoke haze can stick around for days at a time, even when there isn’t a wildfire around for hundreds or thousands of miles away.

It forms when tiny particles from wildfire smoke linger in the air, often trapped by high pressure or light winds. Smoke haze can reduce visibility, making travel conditions dangerous. It can also create a reddish tint in the sky, creating a gorgeous sunrise or sunset.

You might also notice the sun appearing more orange or even blood-red. This is because the the particles within the smoke suspended in the atmosphere, causes the longer wavelengths of light to scatter, leading to more intense and vibrant red and orange sunsets.

But it’s not all beautiful. Smoke haze can greatly impact air quality and health. On hazy days, check your local Air Quality Index (AQI) before heading outside, especially if you have respiratory issues.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.