Smoke from Siberian wildfires 4,000 miles away reaches New England

DAYTON — Smoke created from massive wildfires more than 4,000 miles away in Siberia reached New England this week.

The wildfires were burning in eastern Siberia and have lofted massive amounts of smoke high into the atmosphere, said Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist Eric Elwell.

“Strong winds aloft in the polar jet stream carried some of the smoke from the fires across the Bering Strait and into northern Alaska, then southeastward into central Canada and eventually across the Great Lakes and eastward into southern New England,” Elwell said.

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The smoke created hazy skies in Alaska last weekend before the smoke shifted east-southeastward.

“Due to the refraction of sunlight by smoke particles, it can often create more vibrant sunrises and sunsets,” Elwell said.