Smoke from Canadian wildfires has drifted thousands of miles across the U.S., remaining suspended in the atmosphere for days, according to CNY Central.
Meteorologist Violet Scibior explains that intense heat pushes smoke up to 5 miles high into the jet stream, allowing it to travel far. Because the particles are extremely small, they can linger in the air for weeks over one area.
Only strong winds or rain can remove the smoke, as rain traps particles and brings them to the ground—clearing the air and improving quality.
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