Northeast rain clears but still hazy

For many the stagnant weather pattern finally clears, but now smoke follows, preventing a blue sky view.

Smoke from the fires in the West has made its way across parts of the Great Lakes and arrived in areas in the Mid-Atlantic Friday morning and likely across the Northeast this afternoon. It's a bummer since many across these regions were really looking forward to some blue skies after almost a full week of cloudy and rainy days.

You can check out the air quality index in our app for your city and see how healthy (or not) levels will be at your location. It also has a forecast for the next six days. If you have respiratory issues, this will come in handy. Also, keep in mind that smoke could make your eyes itch or become watery as if you were suffering from allergies.

Several fires are burning out west, from California to Idaho. Some have started by natural causes such as lightning strikes, others by humans. The largest fire burns in Baker County, Ore., where a quarter million acres are burning, and it's only 20% contained. Remember these particles tend to fly way up in the atmosphere, about 30,000 feet or 5 miles, at the height at which commercial planes travel.