NWS Air Quality Alert (Catawba County)

Current Conditions
Hickory

Temp: 73.1°F

Forecast Last Updated at Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 12:43PM

Smoke on the Water

Smoke from the Canadian wildfires in Quebec will remain over the area for the next couple of days, creating hazy skies. Few clouds are expected over the next three days, and temperatures are expected to warm to normal by Saturday. Our next chance at rain looks to be Sunday, which may clear some of the smokey haze in the skies.

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Thursday Hi: 78 Lo: 52 Sunshine filtered through smoky haze; Cooler; NW wind 5-10 mph

Friday Hi: 79 Lo: 54 Sunshine filtered through smoky haze; Pleasant; Light NW wind

Saturday Hi: 83 Lo: 59 Sunshine filtered through smoky haze; Warmer; Light SW wind

Sunday Hi: 83 Lo: 65 Increasing clouds; Scattered evening showers & thundershowers

Monday Hi: 81 Lo: 60 Mostly to partly cloudy; Mainly AM showers & thundershowers

Further Out

Tuesday - Partly sunny; High in the lower 80s; Low in the upper 50s
Wednesday - Partly sunny; Warmer; High in the mid 80s; Low in the lower 60s

Forecast Discussion

Canadian wildfires are producing smoke that's being funneled by a low pressure over the northeast and a high pressure over the western Great Lakes. This will cause hazy skies in the area for the next few days.

The high pressure over the Great Lakes has a ridge extending over the area, and will move over the Southern Appalachians on Saturday. This will prevent any clouds or storms from forming.

On Sunday, a warm front approaches from the southwest, bringing cloudier skies and scattered showers and thundershowers. These showers and thundershowers are expected through Monday, as a cold front moves through in the afternoon. The rain should clear some of the smoke in the skies. Skies clear overnight.

Tuesday and Wednesday look partly sunny for now, with the cold front along the Gulf coast.

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