Hazy skies and poor air quality in San Diego from wildfires

Smoke from wildfires in California has been drifting south and east, impacting much of Southern California and parts of Nevada and Utah, and San Diego can expect hazy skies and poor air quality for at least a few more days.

Hazy skies and poor air quality in San Diego from wildfires

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Smoke drifting from wildfires burning in California has been impacting Southern California and neighboring states, and San Diego can expect hazy skies and poor air quality for at least a few more days.

While wildfire smoke from Canada has been impacting the Midwest, the West Coast is now joining in as the Gifford Fire has burned more than 80,000 acres in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, in addition to the Rosa Fire near the Santa Rosa Mountains and the Gold Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest.

The smoke has been drifting south and east, impacting much of Southern California and parts of Nevada and Utah.

Air quality in the United States on August 5, 2025 (Airnow.gov)
Air quality in the United States on August 5, 2025 (Airnow.gov)

The National Weather Service reports the smoke and haze that has been blanketing San Diego County and surrounding areas since Sunday will linger in the area through at least Thursday morning. NWS says this includes all smoke in the atmosphere that may not necessarily be near the surface.

San Diego coastal areas will also see some patchy cloud coverage from a shallow marine layer in the next few days.

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The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District reports the air quality forecast for San Diego on Tuesday and Wednesday will range from good (green) to unhealthy for sensitive groups (orange).

View the air quality in your area in real-time at Airnow.gov.

If you smell smoke or see ash during wildfires, the South Coast Air Quality Management District offers some precautions to take, including wearing an N95 mask, staying indoors with windows and doors closed, running an HVAC or air purifier, and avoiding using a leaf blower. If you are cleaning up wildfire ash, wear goggles, gloves, long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

The hazy conditions come as inland San Diego County will be under a heat advisory later this week, while desert areas will be under an extreme heat warning.

  • For the coastal areas: 73 to 82, western valleys and inland Orange County: 82 to 89, inland valleys: 88 to 98, mountains between 4000 ft and 7000 ft: 80 to 91, high desert: 95 to 102, low desert: 108 to 111 (PHOTO: National Weather Service)
  • For the coastal areas: 78 to 87, western valleys and inland Orange County: 87 to 95, inland valleys: 94 to 104, mountains between 4000 ft and 7000 ft: 84 to 95, high desert: 99 to 106, low desert: 114 to 117 (PHOTO: National Weather Service)
  • The orange on the map shows much of inland San Diego County will be under a heat advisory Wednesday through Friday (PHOTO: National Weather Service)
  • Warming conditions expected for the middle to end of next week. By Thursday widespread moderate HeatRisk is expected for the valleys, mountains and High Desert. Widespread major HeatRisk is expected for the low desert (PHOTO: National Weather Service)