Why Is It Smoky Outside In Florida Today (2024)

FAQs

What to do when air is smoky? ›

Stay safe indoors when it's smoky out:

Stay indoors when AQI is 150+. Children under age 18, adults over age 65, people with asthma or respiratory and heart conditions, pregnant people, and others at higher risk from smoke should stay indoors when AQI is 100+. Watch for symptoms. Improve indoor air.

The Monster. Uncontrolled wildfire raging through a forest can have disastrous effects. Healthy trees are reduced to blackened snags; shrubs that provided food and cover for wildfire become ashes; under the intense heat some soil nutrients are vaporized and become airborne in clouds of choking smoke.

The effects are even more pronounced when a city is surrounded by hills or mountains since they form an additional barrier to air circulation. Smokey weather may be caused by normal atmospheric flows when smoke enters the air.

Climate change is causing more frequent and severe wildfires. Drought and frequent heatwaves dry out plants and dirt and create fuel for fires. During a fire, smoke can travel hundreds of miles. In LA County, wildfire smoke in urban areas can significantly worsen air quality.

California has experienced some of the most destructive wildfire seasons in recent years. Large wildfires often produce intense smoke that can pose serious health risks.

Do not run your home ventilation (bath vents, kitchen vent, etc.) because it brings the outdoor air into your home. Run your air conditioner/heat pump if you have one. It's safe to use during wildfires and can help improve your home's indoor air quality.

Wildfires, as well as controlled burning for agricultural and land management purposes, can produce large areas of smoke over the rural interior of South Florida. This occurs primarily during the drier months from November to May.

Incident Overview. The Major Fire, located within Ocala National Forest, was discovered on April 27, 2023, after a lightning storm swept through the area that afternoon, igniting the fire. Due to dry, windy conditions, fire activity increased, with the largest day of growth On May 10th, spreading north and west.

The 2023 Florida wildfire season was series of wildfires that burned throughout the U.S. state of Florida. As of December 3, there were a total of 2,656 wildfires, burning 101,188 acres (158.106 sq mi) across the state.

Long, humid days and more direct sunlight make it easier for the sky to hold onto particulate matter, creating that hazy weather.

Why is smoke coming out of the ground? ›

As long as openings exist for the smoke to follow, smoke tests are effective, regardless of surface type, soil type and depth of lines. Smoke coming out of the ground may indicate a break or other defect in the sewer line which allows smoke to escape up through the ground.

Because smoke can travel hundreds or thousands of miles, air quality can also be a problem far from the wildfire itself. Air quality can change rapidly.

The most interesting part is what the toxic chemicals do to the smell of smoke. While the tasty chemicals occur in food, these others have an unpleasant industrial smell. PbF smells a lot like chlorine, formaldehyde is the plasticky smell of preserved specimens in jars, and benzene is literally the smell of gasoline.

Smoke will start at lower temperatures than flame, so if your wood is smoldering it will create a lot of smoke. When a fire is hotter, it creates more flame and less smoke. Wet wood makes this difficult. In order to prevent this, make sure you burn only firewood for sale that is dry and dense.

Wildland fires generate intense heat. But plumes of the sooty smoke that they emit can rise to high altitudes. There it can block out much of the sun's light, causing a ground-level cooling.

Filters and Air Cleaners: If you have an air conditioning system, change your filter regularly, and keep a high-efficiency filter on hand. Filters labeled “MERV13” or higher are most effective for removing smoke particles. Having a portable HEPA air cleaner available will also help to create a room with filtered air.

Turn on all the fans, even the exhaust fans in the bathrooms and kitchen. Get some cross-ventilation going by sticking box fans in your windows — facing out! — to recirculate your home's air and replace that smoke smell with a fresh, outdoor breeze. Sweep, mop, vacuum, repeat.