In what is likely to be Alaska's worst wildfire season on record, an estimated 1.88 million acres have already been scorched by 617 different fires this year. The fires have been so frequent and so widespread that smoke has made its way all the way down to the Midwest and parts of the South, and could be clearly seen crossing over the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of South Carolina on Wednesday. In fact, the smoke wafting across the landlocked U.S. states has been so thick it has even affected temperatures, lowering daytime highs in some states by a few degrees.
Alaska's record year of wildfires was likely sparked by the state's warmer than average temperatures, as the often snowy state had a relatively snowless winter and a fairly mild spring.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Why is Tesla stumbling?In the Spotlight More competition, confusion about the future and a giant pay package for Elon Musk
-
How Taylor Swift changed copyright negotiations in musicunder the radar The success of Taylor's Version rerecordings has put new pressure on record labels
-
Job scams are increasingly common. Here's what to look out for.The Explainer You should never pay for an application or give out your personal info before being hired
-
Arid Gulf states hit with year's worth of rainSpeed Read The historic flooding in Dubai is tied to climate change
-
EPA limits carcinogenic emissions at 218 US plantsSpeed Read The new rule aims to reduce cancer-causing air pollution in areas like Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley'
-
Strong Taiwan earthquake kills 9, injures hundredsSpeed Read At magnitude 7.4, this was Taiwan's biggest earthquake in 25 years
-
EPA sets auto pollution rule that boosts EVsSpeed Read The Biden administration's new rules will push US automakers toward electric vehicles and hybrids
-
More than 150 people dead following earthquake in NepalSpeed Read The death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers continue digging through rubble
-
Nearly 1,000 birds dead in one night after striking building in ChicagoSpeed Read The birds died after colliding with the McCormick Place convention center next to Lake Michigan
-
At least 1 dead at Burning Man as thousands remain stranded from floodingSpeed Read
-
Earthquake rattles Southern California as Tropical Storm Hilary hitsSpeed Read
