Weekend saw some Canadian wildfire smoke over our region

The National Weather Service says our region got a sample of Canadian wildfire smoke on Sunday.

In what has become a common annual summer occurrence, smoke from Canadian and now U.S. wildfires continue to spread across the skies across much of the Great Lakes.

The smoke may dim the sun and create colorful sunrises and sunsets. Where the smoke is the thickest, it is reaching the surface at times, slightly reducing visibilities, and even creating a campfire smell. 

The number of acres burned in western Canada this year is well below last year's historic fire season that sent smoke our way several times. But heat and lightning in late July has rekindled a new round of fires in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan.  This year, thousands of acres have also burned in Idaho, Montana and Oregon to add to the drifting smoke.

Most of it stays at high altitudes, but passing weather systems can force that air down to grond level. Minnesota and Michigan have borne the brunt of the smoke's passage with occasional poor air quality alerts and warnings to residents with respiratory illnesses.

Paducah's smoke on Sunday was seen as high-level clouds that made for some beautiful local sunsets. As of Monday morning, Paducah's air quality was at an index of 25, well inside the good range.