Brendan J. Lyons is reporting for the Times Union the hazy skies that were a result of smoke from the West Coast wildfires lowered the amount of solar radiation in New York by about 25 percent, a level that scientists say at least briefly impacted the state's solar power production. Scientists and researchers at the SUNY Albany New York State Mesonet have been monitoring the situation closely and said that most of the smoke high overhead was blurring the skies on September 15 and 16. There was still a great deal of smoke in the atmosphere September 17, but it was mixed with some clouds from an incoming cold front that is expected to help push the smoke out of the region. NYS Mesonet measures solar radiation, and other atmospheric conditions, at 126 stations built with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency following Hurricane Sandy. There is at least one station in every New York county. "Normally, you get a lot of clear skies this time of year," said Jerry Brotzge, NYS Mesonet program manager. "We're seeing a reduction of about 25 percent in the solar radiation coming in. ... The fires are thousands of miles away, but just the way the jet stream carries the smoke ... it's one of those events you don't expect. I'm sure it's enough of a reduction; it's something (energy providers) had to readjust for." Jennifer Vogt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albany said sky conditions are expected to improve Friday. Read the full story in the Times Union.