Dystopian Today

I don’t know if it’s because California, and especially the Bay Area, has a rather narrow definition of “normal weather” (we rarely experience severe storms and even lightening is rare here), but the disorientation from yesterday is lingering. Today the air quality is very bad – it hurts the eyes and lungs – but the ominous orange tinge and the dark skies are gone.

I feel like this video encapsulates how disconcerting yesterday felt. It really does seem like we’re living in some dystopian future, except it’s happening right now. A dystopian today. It’s been hard to shake.

6 Comments

  1. That is SUCH an incredible amount of orange in the sky. We had terrible red/orange skies here Monday morning – Tuesday noon (when rain and snow hit and knocked it out), but not quite as bad as you. Even here though, the blood red sun and oddly colored air totally messed with us all!

  2. San Francisco’s air quality today is amazing. I had heard yesterday that the smoke plume had extended out 150 miles across the Pacific. Clearly that plume came back in and is hanging in SF, Marin coastal bay areas, the east bay directly across from the Golden Gate. Just over the hills the more eastern areas are better but not good at all. Up near the northern end of the state the fires there are hanging low smoke at high concentrations too.
    Today I see more birds out and it is lighter (not looking like twilight). Visually it looks less spooky but in reality the air is still NOT AT ALL GOOD for breathing for anyone. I’ve heard that this weekend may bring some improvement in areas not close to fires but the central CA valley and up into Oregon will not get much if any relief.
    This is important to the nation because it has a huge impact on the productivity and taste of this area’s major contribution to the nation’s food supply. Availability will be down, more produce/grapes/nuts/tree fruits will need to be imported, and that translates to …More price increases at groceries.
    Just as flooding in the midwest and hurricanes in the south are a national impact problem so are these fires.

  3. The sky was really awful today in SoCal. It affected my mood pretty dramatically, more than it has in the past. I felt very unsettled. The orange glow made it feel like it was 5 am all day. This may sound dramatic, but I felt like the air quality could lead people to suicide if it continues for awhile. Until the sun went down, I really felt like I was going crazy. And when I didn’t let my son play outside with his friend because of the air quality he asked why are so many bad things happening right now? It was pretty heartbreaking. I feel so sad thinking about the world I brought my children into.

  4. Air quality SF Bay Area running around/close to 300 range…. Up the valley nearer the two fires Mendocino County and near Oroville it is High 300-some at 400+.
    Stay quiet and indoors. Be careful as you can. News now saying these will continue until Monday at best……..

  5. Thursday 17th.
    Thinking of you all. Hope most have better air though know up the central valley and into Oregon to Washington it is terrible. And impacting Colorado and also the east coast. But Immediate SF Bay Area it is possible to go outdoors again, right now, and fingers crossed!!!!! Because it helps.
    No idea how all the teachers and parents and students are holding up through this event. Sending you all wishes that you have support.
    League of Women Voters has published their election commentary on state propositions/measures, most with an position but clear statements when and why no preference expressed on some. Voter’s Edge can show you what will be on your ballot and any local measures and local offices, they print explaination papers in simple language but do not express opinions. Get ready now so you can turn your ballots around really rapidly if voting by ballot box or mail, do your homework so if you vote in person you are ready really early in the day and get that done or wait in line as long as it takes.
    Wishing you all well. VOTE please. Thank you.
    NOT intending to pressure our hostess to write, just hoping, so very much, that she and her family and all of you and yours are all still standing or… sitting…. or…. holding on.

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