Paducah, Ky. – Skies across Kentucky are turning hazy Friday evening as smoke from Canadian wildfires pushes into the region, prompting potential air quality issues and visibility concerns through Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, smoke at 6,000 feet above ground level is being transported southward by upper-level winds, blanketing much of western and central Kentucky. The heaviest concentrations are expected overnight into Saturday morning, with the thickest smoke over areas like Owensboro, Bowling Green, and Murray.
Residents in Lexington, Elizabethtown, and even as far east as Ashland may notice a distinct smoky smell and colorful sunrises and sunsets due to fine particulate matter. Sensitive groups—especially those with asthma or respiratory conditions—should limit prolonged outdoor activity. While surface air quality readings are expected to vary, intermittent drops are possible.
Temperatures will trend warmer this weekend, reaching the mid-80s by Sunday, but the hazy conditions may slightly limit afternoon sun in some areas. Breezy winds between 20–25 mph will continue Friday evening, aiding the smoke transport.
The smoke plume is expected to thin out by late Saturday, though updates from the National Weather Service will continue as conditions evolve.
