Smoke From Alaskan Wildfires Makes For Cooler Temps In Other Parts Of The Country

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Smog high in the atmosphere that traveled half a continent to cover Arkansas apparently is one reason for relatively cooler temperatures over the weekend.

The National Weather Service said Tuesday that the smog - smoke from Alaska wildfires - was moving out of the state to the east after blanketing much of Arkansas at high levels for a few days.

``It keeps our temperature down. It acts just like a cloud layer,'' said meteorologist Emilie Nipper.

Alaska has been having one of its worst wildfire seasons in years, with more than 3.6 million acres already burned. Most of the state's 109 fires are in remote and unpopulated areas, and many are being allowed to burn.

Nipper said smoke from the fires was carried east by high-level winds to the Great Lakes region, then swept down the Mississippi River corridor. She said that contributed to a Monday morning low of 69 degrees that was close to the record 64.

A NASA photo taken Monday from the satellite Terra showed a blanket of smoke covering Arkansas, most of Louisiana and part of Texas.