Smoke

This past winter was unseasonably dry. This summer has been unusually hot (high 90s, low 100s most of the summer) and dry. Because of this combination we have had a LOT of wildfires. And so has California. Because of all the wildfires, there has been a LOT of smoke in the air for the past couple of weeks. (California shared most of their smoke with us as well.) So much so that when you walk outside it smells like a campfire. Everywhere. And the mountains have disappeared. It has been insane. I don't even want to let my kids play outside because the air quality is so bad.

Here is a comparison shot. The top picture was taken on Aug. 10, 2018 and the bottom picture was taken in April 2017. Now, the angles are not exactly the same. But you should still be able to see mountains in the background of both. You can't. Not even the much closer hills are visible.

The sun on the ground had a reddish-orange hue all day long. It looks like it was sunset, but this was taken in the middle of the day.

And further proof that it was smoke and not just clouds:
My phone claims that it was sunny, cloudless day that day. But there were no blue skies to be seen.

Funny conversation I had with my kids during the smokey week:

Tessa: Can we play outside?

Me: Not today. It's too smokey.

T: I can plug my nose.

Me: But then you can't breathe.

T: Well then I will unplug my nose when I need to breathe.

Me: But... then it will be too smokey...

She then looked outside and informed me that it's not smokey. Cooper, overhearing the conversation chimes in: "This is why we can't go outside." And shows me this page in his book he was reading.

Close enough, buddy. Haha.