Today the smoke is at ground level and the sky is visible although with reddish color. Don't know if there is a connection, but my neighbor is wearing her Grace Slick outfit and a van took her and left a dog.
PAFA 280053Z 00000KT 7SM FEW120 OVC200 23/06 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP110 FU ALQDS T02330061
Since visibility was greater than 6 statute miles, an entry for present weather wasn't required. Since smoke was being reported in all quadrants in the remarks, I could surmise that all the layeres reported could be smoke (<= 2/8 obscured @ 12,000 and overcast @ 20,000).
However, since visibility presently is below the 6 mile threshold, present weather must be reported, ergo the obscuration to visibility at the station is reported as smoke. HOWEVER, a distinction is made that the layer at 1000' is smoke in the remarks (<= 2/8 coverage though). Since sector visiblity is not reported, the informs me that prevailing visibility is impeded by smoke in all quadrants (don't need a special entry for that).
That the sky appears red even so higher layers are not reported as being smoke, is because you're observing them through the obscuration of smoke at the surface.
@1953 UTC (ADT +8):
PAFA 291953Z 03003KT 3SM FU SCT001 22/07 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP109 FU SCT001 T02220072
Smoke layer at 1000' has increased coverage to at least 3/8 sky coverage to less than 5/8.