Burning Smell Blamed On Dry Weather, Brush Fires

WRAL Meteorologist

Mike Maze says an inversion above the surface of the ground -- where the temperature at a certain point above the ground starts to rise -- is trapping the smoke close to the ground.

Usually, the air that is close to the ground is warmer than the airfound at higher altitudes. When the air is especially still, cooler air, which is more dense, settles close to the ground. The warmerair forms a blanket above it in a temperature inversion.

Pollutants in the air, such as smoke and soot, are also trapped close to the ground. Fogformed when moisture in the cool air condenses close to the earth's surfacebecomes smog when combined with these pollutants.

The smoky smell is likely to last through the afternoon.

All the brush fires have been contained.