If you've noticed our sunsets and sunrises have seemed especially red and hazy lately, it's not just in your head. There's a scientific reason behind what's making them that way.

Michelle Margraf
Michelle Margraf/National Weather Service
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Turns out, that reason is... wildfires burning out west. That's right. According to the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities, fires currently burning waaay out in the Pacific northwest here in the U.S. and in British Columbia, Canada are creating smoke.

And those smoke plumes are drifting east, covering parts of the affecting sunsets and sunrises here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

That picture (which is kind of tough to read) shows that most of Minnesota is experiencing 'light' haziness thanks to the fires, but parts of our state-- including Rochester and other parts of southeast Minnesota-- could be in the 'medium' category.

Have you noticed that our sunsets and/or sunrises are hazier or more red than usual? I guess I did notice that the sunset Tuesday DID seem pretty scenic and red. I kind of feel bad, though, because that scenic red, hazy sunset I was enjoying is actually being caused by destructive wildfires. Yikes.

At least it's not as bad a few years ago, when you could actually SMELL smoke from wildfires burning in Canada! (Remember that?!?) Either way, you can get more info on these fires-- and the hazy sunrises and sunsets they're causing-- HERE.

 

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