Here is Why the Sky is So Hazy Today in Cedar Rapids

The sky isn't falling, but it certainly is hazy! And there's a perfectly logical reason why. Before we get to that, if you're up early like me, you have very likely noticed our sunrises have been a tad more orange and somewhat blurry. It almost looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. Well, along with the hazy sky, there's a simple reason why we're experiencing this, Canadian wildfires.

Wildfires in Canada and the Western U.S. can be seen all over North America

While some of the wildfire haze is coming from the western U.S., most is emanating from Canada. If you're sensitive to air pollution, you should be okay here in Iowa, according to We Are Iowa. They say it's nothing more than a visual change. However, in New York, it's far worse. Their air quality is among the worst in the world, and the haze there is much more noticeable than here in Iowa. In fact, I thought our sunrise looked pretty awesome this morning while I was driving into work.

The new normal?

This is not the first year we've experienced hazy days in Iowa. It's been a trend recently. Droughts have to lead to constant wildfires year after year, and so it's become almost normal, unfortunately. A clear sign of mid-summer. It's also very visible on traffic cameras.

And certainly, Iowans are not alone.

With any luck, some rain will provide an assist in putting out fires, and we can get back to 'normal' summer weather. Hot and clear. Hazy isn't always a good look on you, summer.