Phoenix-area skies pulling in smoke from California wildfire

PHOENIX – Winds have carried smoke from an out-of-state wildfire into metro Phoenix, leaving hazy, orange skies that will stick around for the next couple of days, weather forecasters said Monday.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix said smoke from the Apple Fire burning in Southern California has settled over the Valley. With little wind in the area, the skies may not clear until Wednesday.

Winds were expected to pick up in the Valley on Tuesday and start moving out the smoke.

The smoke from the #AppleFire stuck around through the day due to weak winds and high pressure centered over our area. Can really distinguish the smoke (green) and storm clouds (red/orange) in this Day Cloud Phase product from GOES-East. #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/PBwSnGgE82

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) August 3, 2020

The blaze in Riverside County had burned about 20,000 acres and forced the evacuation of 8,000 people. The fire, which was first reported Friday evening, was 5% contained.

“It’s a ton of smoke,” weather bureau meteorologist Isaac Smith told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Sunday.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality said on its website the smoke hadn’t had much impact at the ground level.

The haze hasn’t managed to confuse the heat. An excessive heat warning was extended to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Afternoon temperatures were going to range from 108 degrees to 114 degrees, forecasters said.

July was the hottest month on record for Phoenix, averaging 99 degrees.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross and John Roller contributed to this report.

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