That smoke stinging your eyes and obscuring an otherwise clear sky the past two days isn’t coming from a neighbor defying a local burn ban.
It’s the remnants of thousands of acres of North Georgia wildfires, carried into Atlanta by the wind.
Though the campfire smell may bring a nostalgic feel to fall, the historic drought is bringing the haze — and unhealthy air. It’s likely to hang around all day Friday, affecting your commute and contributing to your cough.
And while we’ll likely get relief from much of the eye-stinging air carried south from Fannin County when the wind changes course Saturday, there is no rain in sight.
The largest of several fires started more than 100 miles away three weeks ago when lightning struck in the Cohutta Wilderness Area of the Chattahoochee National Forest. That fire, which has consumed 10,000 acres north of Ellijay and west of Blue Ridge, is only 13 percent contained despite the tireless efforts of hundreds of firefighters.
Extreme drought conditions, which have been in effect for several months, and an utter lack of rain continue to contribute to poor conditions across the northern half of the state.
And a cold front moving through Friday will keep the smoke coming in our direction, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz.
In October, wildfire activity in the state was more than 200 times the five-year average for the month, the Georgia Forestry Commission said.
More than 200 wildfires were reported statewide just over the past week, with 56 new fires burning Thursday.
Some of the worst fires recently have been in Floyd, Whitfield and Fannin counties in North Georgia. More than 55 acres were burned in Floyd over a two-day period last month and more than 200 acres were consumed in Whitfield.
Just north of the state line, deputies in Hamilton County, Tennessee, are going door-to-door to ask residents to evacuate from a fire in the Lookout Mountain area that started last weekend, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized aid to cover costs of fighting the fire, according to the report.
Closer to home, more than 170 firefighters in Paulding County have been battling a wildfire that grew to 50 acres earlier this week, hosing down hot spots and using bulldozers to create breaks in the brush that would stop burning leaves from spreading.
Fires have also been reported in Forsyth, DeKalb and Douglas counties over the past week.
A potential for falling leaves to catch fire and burn remains high over the next two weeks, and firefighters are instructed to step in when flames threaten human lives.
“We have tremendous wildfires in the north part of the state,” Georgia Forestry Commission spokeswoman Wendy Burnett said.
On Thursday, an aggressive arsonist was suspected in several fires in Rabun County, where fire broke out in the absence of lightning and leaf-burning. Heavy smoke was also seen in the Athens area.
Reports also came in about hazy conditions along I-85 southbound in Gwinnett County and I-20 westbound in DeKalb County. Officials urged driver caution due to the reduced visibility.
Warnings about the air quality in metro Atlanta were issued Thursday after conditions hit a “Code Red.” The 157 level is considered “unhealthy,” and Channel 2 chief meteorologist Glenn Burns said older and younger people are most likely to be affected.
Dry conditions have led officials to impose burn bans in Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding, Cobb and Douglas counties, as well as the city of Johns Creek.
Fires are expected to be a concern until significant rain returns to the area, but the smoke should clear out from Atlanta soon.
Nitz said he expects winds to change direction Saturday and blow the smoke out of the metro area.
“Smoky conditions will continue in north Georgia near and downwind from the fires,” Nitz said.
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