Southeast Wildfire Smoke Reaches Atlanta

Smoke from wildfires in south Georgia drifted into metro Atlanta on April 22 and 23, leaving haze, a burn smell, and lower air quality across the region. (dph.georgia.gov) The National Weather Service said hazy conditions were expected across parts of north and central Georgia from Wednesday night through Friday as smoke moved north from south Georgia and north Florida. Atlanta’s weather office reported “smoke” with 3 miles of visibility at one point Wednesday morning, while Chamblee and Peachtree City reported haze. (weather.gov, weather.gov) Local agencies told residents with asthma or other respiratory problems to limit time outdoors, keep windows closed, and run air conditioning on recirculate. The Georgia Department of Public Health said wildfire smoke can irritate eyes and airways in healthy people and can worsen asthma, lung disease, and heart conditions. (11alive.com, dph.georgia.gov) The smoke is traveling so far because wind is carrying tiny particles from burning trees and brush hundreds of miles north. The National Weather Service said overnight winds and a shallow layer of trapped air near the ground could reduce visibility before daytime mixing improves conditions. (weather.gov) The Atlanta haze is tied to a broader fire emergency in south Georgia. Gov. Brian Kemp on April 22 declared a state of emergency in 91 counties, and the order allows state agencies and the Georgia National Guard to support wildfire response. (gov.georgia.gov, 11alive.com) The biggest fire in the state is the Pineland Road fire in Clinch County, which started April 18 and had burned more than 29,000 acres by late April 22, according to local reporting. Another large fire in Brantley County had grown to about 5,000 acres, and the Georgia Forestry Commission said it responded to almost 50 new fires in south Georgia on April 21 alone. (11alive.com, walb.com) Dry ground is helping the fires spread. The National Weather Service said 90% of Georgia is in severe to exceptional drought, the state’s largest drought footprint in nearly 20 years, and it strongly discouraged outdoor burning. (weather.gov) Air quality in Atlanta shifted during the event. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the metro area was mostly in the “moderate” range on April 22 before briefly reaching an “unhealthy” reading around noon, and local stations reported a Code Orange alert for April 23 for sensitive groups. (ajc.com, 11alive.com) Forecasters expect the smoke to ease as weather changes later this week. The National Weather Service said showers and thunderstorms are expected from Saturday into early next week, bringing Atlanta its first meaningful chance of rain in a long stretch. (weather.gov)