Jersey Met has reassured Islanders that a blanket of thin, grey cloud seen over the Island yesterday was not wildfire smoke drifting across the Channel.
Some social media users mistook the low cloud for smoke from the major wildfire near Bordeaux.
Following queries from Express, the Island’s weather forecaster clarified the situation.
A Jersey Met spokesperson said: “It doesn’t look like it’s smoke to us. It’s just an area of low clouds.”
The forecaster explained that the low stratus cloud was responsible for its “mistiness”, adding: “No-one needs to worry.”
The footage, posted on Facebook on Wednesday, prompted debate among users over whether it showed smoke or cloud.
The confusion came as a major wildfire outside Bordeaux – around 300 miles from St Helier as the crow flies – displaced 220,000 people in Gironde and threatened the city.
However, as weather conditions improved, French media reported that around 141,000 people had been allowed to return to their homes.
Meanwhile, a smaller fire started outside Rennes in nearby Brittany on Monday, but it was rapidly contained and less than a hectare of forest was burnt, according to French media.
