Why is the sun red? How a wildfire in Utah is affecting Arizona skies
Residents across Arizona woke up to an unusual sight on Monday morning as a red sun and a thick haze took over the state's usually clear skies.
Meteorologist Gabriel Lojero with the National Weather Service in Phoenix said the strange appearance of the sun and the sky was due to smoke from the Silver King Wildfire burning in southern Utah.
Lojero said the wind near the wildfire area was flowing southeast as of Monday, bringing smoke from the wildfire down into the central and eastern parts of Arizona.
The sun may appear more orange or red than normal because smoke particles high in the sky scatter the light, lending to longer wavelengths of light, which appear red.
"Like clouds, smoke can disperse the sunrays more easily ... that's why the sun may have appeared different," Lojero said.
The phenomenon was particularly noticeable on Monday morning after the fire, burning near Fishlake National Park, doubled in size to more than 10,800 acres by Sunday night.
What Arizona areas were impacted by smoke?
According to Lojero, the Arizona cities mostly impacted by upper-level smoke on Monday were Flagstaff, the eastern half of metro Phoenix, Show Low, Globe, Safford and Tucson.
Lojero said the smoke was likely not enough to create health issues since the smoke was primarily aloft and not sitting at the surface level.
Still, he advised people with risk conditions and respiratory illnesses to take precautions. Here are some suggestions you can keep in mind.
Smoke guidelines for people with respiratory issues
These are American Lung Association guidelines' to follow for those with asthma, COPD or other lung diseases:
Stay indoors, and keep windows and doors closed.
Block outdoor air by tucking damp towels at the bottom of doors and windows.
Do not smoke indoors. Do not burn anything indoors like wood or candles. Do not vacuum.
Run the air conditioner and set air to recirculate to reduce smoke.
Keep windows closed in vehicles.
Additionally, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality advises people reduce any physical exertion.
"You might notice your eyes are running, you might notice your scratchy throat. That's when you really want to start limiting your time outdoors and spend more time indoors," Arizona Department of Environmental Quality meteorologist Matthew Pace told The Republic.
Republic Reporter Jose R. Gonzales contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why is the sun red? Arizona impacted by Silver King Wildfire in Utah
