We are in a terrible drought along Coastal NC which is severe and probably will go exceptional when updated next week. I had only 0.75" of rain in June and the Average is 6.51". Only 15.53" for the year and in an average year we should get 60-70". That is contributing to very large Forest Fires from lightning strikes in the thunderstorms that do fire. The smoke is going all the way down into SC on a NW/N/NE wind. It is in the Holly Shelter Game Land in Pender Co. just north of Wilmington; 30,000+ acres as well as several other smaller fires.
Yesterday and Thursday it was so smokey during the day you had to drive with your headlights on and during the hours right before Dawn it was so smokey visibility was basically zero. Like driving in the worst fog you have ever seen. Unfortunately people with breathing problems are really having a tough time with all the particles in the air; I personally know of several deaths here locally from people with asthma dying. The worst fire (Holly Shelter) is probably 60+ miles NE of me. Today is still very hazy with a South wind blowing but it is better than the last several days.