The wind shifted and we are in a smoke screen. The sun is red and the air is thick and pungent. Maybe I should check the TV to see if there is a wildfire raging nearby rather than this being from the Arizona fires.
Here’s what the weather channel says:
Issued by The National Weather Service
Albuquerque, NM
Mon, Jun 6, 2011, 1:39 PM MDT
THE WALLOW FIRE NEAR ALPINE ARIZONA WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN ACTIVE… RELEASING AN EXTENSIVE AND FAR REACHING PLUME OF SMOKE ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.
THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON… THE SMOKE WILL BE MOST CONCENTRATED ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEW MEXICO… FROM LUNA TO RED HILL TO FENCE LAKE… ZUNI PUEBLO AND EL MORRO AND GALLUP. VISIBILITIES IN THESE AREAS WILL BE LESS THAN ONE MILE WITH AIR QUALITY CONDITIONS UNHEALTHY FOR ALL. AS SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON… THE SMOKE PLUME WITH START TO MIGRATE EASTWARD. DEEP MIXING DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS WILL DISPERSE THE SMOKE THROUGH A DEEP LAYER OF THE ATMOSPHERE… BUT AFTER SUNSET THE CONCENTRATION OF SMOKE WILL INCREASE NEAR THE SURFACE… AFFECTING LOCATIONS ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO.
SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL PERSIST ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY… AND ADDITIONAL FIRES ARE ACTIVE… SO SMOKE COULD CONTINUE TO AFFECT WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.
THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES OR ISSUES SHOULD AVOID USING THEIR SWAMP COOLERS AND SHOULD STAY INDOORS. THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT WHEN SMOKE LEVELS ARE HIGH… THE USE OF ANYTHING THAT BURNS SUCH AS CANDLES… FIREPLACES..OR GAS STOVES… IS DISCOURAGED.
