Smoky Saturday

We're used to regular bouts of smoke and ash during the fall in Southern California, due to annual wildfires stoked by the Santa Ana Winds, but today is quite a bit worse than usual.

Here's one of the views from our neighborhood in North Orange County:


The fires are not close -- we're in no danger -- but the smoke is quite oppressive. When you look out the window you can see ash fluttering to the ground like snowflakes.

Needless to say, all our kids' AYSO soccer games were cancelled for the day. It's pretty smoky even inside our house.

Update: Here's a shot taken around 2:45 p.m. The overcast sky is a combination of brown and orange. It's dark enough we had to turn on the lights inside the house despite the early hour.


My husband had a trombone gig scheduled tonight in Claremont which was just called off due to the fires.