Is it just me or does it seem like the smoke production on the larger fires in So Cal is not dispersing as much as it normally does. Seems like on ANF-Lake, ANF-Ranch and today the VNC-Holser the smoke is lingering near the column creating bad visibility on the downwind half of the column. Seems like we dont have a lot of air movement in the atmosphere unless your nesr a thunderstorm. Last 5 days have been super hazy, hot and more humid. Just an observation, any other Wx geeks like me see this? Hazards to it seems to be limiting aviation access to some of the fire for intel or suppression .
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The inversion layer is thicker with these current weather conditions which traps much of the smoke underneath. Extremely hot fires such as the Lake and the Ranch will punch through that inversion layer but will still have significant smoke production underneath. And, yes, it does significantly hinder what aircraft can do.
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The primary reason the smoke is not dispersing as much is due to the very light onshore winds at the surface coupled with the SE mid level low over the area that is causing weak steering flow through out the column.
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Also in looking at the many Alert Cams of recent wildfires you see strong winds aloft counter to the surface winds.
Maybe this is the Corona Effect?
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