ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The smell of smoke was reported Tuesday morning in the St. Louis metro. Residents of West County mentioned it smelled smoky as early as Monday evening.

What You Need To Know

  • Strong smells of smoke were reported Tuesday morning in the St. Louis metro

  • An active wildfire near Potosi, Mo. has grown to 60 acres

  • Gusty southerly winds were transporting the smoky smell northward

According to fireweatheravalanche.org, the Pigeon Roost Fire, near Potosi, Mo., around 70 miles southwest of St. Louis, was actively burning. This wildfire in the northern part of the Mark Twain National Forest had grown to 30 acres and, as of Tuesday morning, was not contained.

This is likely the culprit of the potent smells in the St. Louis metro. With low humidity levels, dry grounds and gusty southerly winds today, there is an elevated fire risk across the entire state. Outdoor burning is not permitted.

The U.S. Forest Service in the Mark Twain National Forest is responding to several wildfires across the state. The largest one, dubbed the Sugar Fire, has grown to 600 acres near Ava, Mo., about 55 miles northeast of Branson, Mo.

The forecast brings much-needed rain across the entire Show-Me state late Wednesday into Thursday. This will provide wet conditions for the fires as well as alleviate the overall fire risk. To track the timing of the rain, check your local forecast.