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Arizona Wildfire Smoke Drifts Over Neighboring States

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(Image credit: NASA)

Smoke from a wildfire raging in Arizona has spanned multiple states, as can be seen in this NASA Terra satellite image.

According to the U.S. Air Quality "Smog Blog," smoke from the Wallow Fire pushed air quality to unhealthy levels as far east as Alabama and Georgia. Closer to the source of the fire, thick smoke traveled across Colorado and into Nebraska.

In the image, smoke differs from nearby clouds in its darker color and less distinct margins. The Wallow Fire appears in the lower left corner of the image, and the red outlines indicate active blazes.

The smoke plume visible in this image appears disconnected from the Wallow Fire just west of the Arizona-New Mexico border, perhaps due to shifting winds. In Colorado, smoke extends northward across the state, blowing over the Rocky Mountains and into Wyoming and southwestern Nebraska. West of the smoke plume, skies are clear.

The fire broke out on May 29, and as of June 6, the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Live Science Staff
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