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Orange moon caused by Canadian wildfires

Posted at 9:54 PM, Jul 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-07-01 21:54:19-04

You may have noticed some haze in the air today, and there is actually a very specific reason for the haziness. Wildfires in the Alberta territory in Canada have sent smoke down the jet stream all the way to Hampton Roads, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.

The NOAA sends out a smoke forecast as part of their air quality forecasts, and recent model runs show smoke coming down into the region today.

The haze caused by this smoke is also giving the moon its orange tint tonight.

Many people can remember the Great Dismal Swamp fires that caused heavy smoke to affect much of Hampton Roads a few years ago. This event won’t be nearly as severe since the fires are all the way in Canada, and the most we should see is continued haziness.

–Andrew Green