Morning photo: Smoky skies

Big wildfires in the Southwest causing regional air quality problems

Smoke from a massive New Mexico wildfire obscures the normally clear view of Guyot and Baldy across Dillon Reservoir.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Smoke from the 82,000-acre Whitewater-Baldy fire in New Mexico, as well as a new fire near Montrose, Colorado, are impairing air quality in the state’s north-central mountains, said  Chad Gimmestad, the regional National Weather Service coordinator in Boulder.

A strong area of low pressure in Nevada is generating southerly winds, expected to gust above 50 mph Saturday, Gimmestad said. Those winds are carrying the smoke into the area. High wind warnings continue for the West Slope and the plains, and winds are expected to gust above 50 mph in the mountains, as well. By later Saturday night, the low pressure system will pass and winds will swing around to the west and northwest, clearing the smoke out of the area. (more…)

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