Canada Wildfires

Canada Wildfires

Nearly one million acres have burned over the past two weeks as wildfires rage across Western Canada. The fires have forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate while burning a number of structures.

The fires have produced incredibly large plumes of smoke that have stretched from west to east across the North American continent.

New York City’s air quality reached a hazardous level on June 6, a product of the smoke from the fires that is reducing air quality across the country. The smoke from fires in Nova Scotia and Quebec are impacting the east coast most recently. The Quebec region is currently experiencing over 160 forest fires.

Other air quality alerts have been issues in Baltimore, Boston, Raleigh, Minneapolis and St. Louis. The smoke is extending into the Ohio Valley as well.

Colorado, Montana and parts of Idaho were issues air quality warnings earlier in the month as a result of wildfires in Western Canada.

The total number of wildfires in Canada is well over 400, according to Canadian authorities, without short term forecasted improvement.


Satellite animations of this event:

Hover over the boxes to play. Click the images to view enlarged

Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Wrapping Around a Low Pressure System

Description:

Smoke from Canadian wildfires can be seen wrapping around a low pressure system over the upper Midwest.

Satellite: GOES-18


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 09/15/2023 15:00 - 09/15/2023 19:30 UTC

Fires Still Rage in British Colombia and the Northwest Territories

Description:

Wildfires continue to burn across northwestern Canada.

Satellite: NOAA-20, NOAA-21, S-NPP


Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor


Instrument: VIIRS

Timespan: 09/11/2023 18:49 - 09/11/2023 21:21 UTC

Smoke Blankets Eastern Montana

Description:

Smoke from wildfires in British Columbia, Alberta, and the Northern Territories descends south into the US, leading to dense smoke advisories for the eastern half of Montana and severely limiting visibility.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 09/05/2023 13:30 - 09/05/2023 20:00 UTC

British Columbia Wildfires Burn As Bright As Cities During The Night

Description:

Wildfires appear from polar-orbiting satellites to illuminate as brightly as major cities in Western Canada like Vancouver and Calgary.

Satellite: NOAA-20, NOAA-21, S-NPP


Product: Day/Night Band


Instrument: VIIRS

Timespan: 08/18/2023 09:10 - 08/18/2023 10:50 UTC

Fires Near Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories Cause Evacuations

Description:

Fires near Yellowknife have forced evacuations for thousands of residents in the area. These fires are just a few of the many fires burning across the Northwestern Territories.

Satellite: NOAA-20/NOAA-21/S-NPP


Product: Day Fire


Instrument: VIIRS

Timespan: 08/16/2023 18:59 - 08/16/2023 21:08 UTC

Wildfires Showing Increased Activity Across Southern British Columbia

Description:

Multiple wildfires across southern British Columbia showing increased activity near sunset.

Satellite: GOES-18


Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor


Timespan: 08/17/2023 18:40 - 08/18/2023 01:40 UTC

Western Canada Fires Scorch The Land

Description:

Wildfires in British Columbia continue to burn out of control.

Satellite: NOAA-20, NOAA-21, S-NPP


Product: Fire Temperature


Instrument: VIIRS

Timespan: 08/17/2023 19:10 - 08/17/2023 20:50 UTC

Smoke From Fires in Quebec Drifts South Towards the US

Description:

Polar-orbiting satellites collect unique day/night imagery, allowing scientists to see across a wide range of light intensities. Here, smoke from wildfires in Quebec can be seen streaming south towards the US during the middle of the night.

Satellite: NOAA-20, NOAA-21, S-NPP


Product: Day/Night Band


Instrument: VIIRS

Timespan: 08/09/2023 06:10 - 08/09/2023 08:40 UTC

Wildfires Pockmark the Canadian Arctic

Description:

Fires continue to rage across the higher latitudes of Canada in the Northwest Territories and Yukon.

Satellite: NOAA-20, S-NPP


Product: Fire Temperature, Day Fire


Instrument: VIIRS

Timespan: 08/08/2023 19:26 - 08/08/2023 22:49 UTC

Fires Flare Up Across British Columbia

Description:

Strong southerly winds have fanned fires across the interior of British Columbia.

Satellite: NOAA-20, NOAA-21, S-NPP


Product: Day Fire


Instrument: VIIRS

Timespan: 08/01/2023 19:10 - 08/02/2023 21:20 UTC

Wildfire Smoke Continues to Fill Midwest US Skies

Description:

Smoky skies continue to plague parts of the United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 07/24/2023 12:16 - 07/24/2023 16:11 UTC

Sun Rises on Smoky Skies in Eastern United States

Description:

Smoke from Canada wildfires fills the skies over the Eastern United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/29/2023 11:11 - 06/29/2023 14:31 UTC

Wildfire Smoke Makes Journey Across the Atlantic

Description:

Smoke from wildfires in Canada makes the long journey across the Atlantic and Saharan dust drifts to the west.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/23/2023 09:10 - 06/27/2023 20:10 UTC

Large Wildfires Continue Burning in Quebec

Description:

Large wildfires in Quebec, Canada continue to burn with extreme activity.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor


Timespan: 06/28/2023 14:00 - 06/28/2023 23:40 UTC

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Pushes Southeast

Description:

Canadian wildfire smoke pushes southeast into the United States

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/28/2023 12:01 - 06/28/2023 23:06 UTC

Canada Wildfires Fills Midwest Skies with Smoke

Description:

Wildfire smoke continues to fill skies across North America.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/28/2023 11:31 - 06/28/2023 15:56 UTC

Poor Air Quality Plagues Midwest as Thick Wildfire Smoke Dives South

Description:

Poor air quality plagues the Midwest United States and thick wildfire smoke moves in from the north.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/27/2023 11:46 - 06/27/2023 14:36 UTC

Thick Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Arrives in Portugal and Spain

Description:

Wildfires in Canada continue to create large plumes of smoke. This plume has made the journey across the Atlantic, arriving in Portugal and Spain.

Satellite: Meteosat-10


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/26/2023 07:00 - 06/26/2023 17:30 UTC

New Smoke Plume Moves over Upper Midwest and Northern Plains

Description:

A new plume of thick smoke moves over the United States’ Upper Midwest and Northern Plains.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/14/2023 12:36 - 06/14/2023 16:06 UTC

Smoke Wraps Around Low Pressure System over Midwest

Description:

Smoke from wildfires in Canada wrap around a low pressure system over the Midwest United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/13/2023 11:50 - 06/13/2023 14:40 UTC

Extreme Fire Activity Continues in Western Canada

Description:

Extreme wildfire activity continues in Western Canada, filling North American skies with smoke.

Satellite: GOES-18


Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor


Timespan: 06/11/2023 18:00 - 06/12/2023 02:40 UTC

A Week of Smoke in North America

Description:

This time lapse shows how this smoky week (06/03/23 – 06/08/23) has unfolded, plaguing millions with unhealthy air quality.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/03/2023 11:00 - 06/08/2023 22:50 UTC

Smoke Lingers Across Entire Eastern United States

Description:

Wildfire smoke continues to linger across the Eastern United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/08/2023 11:36 - 06/08/2023 18:21 UTC

Large Fires Continue to Burn in Western Canada

Description:

Large wildfires continue to burn across Western Canada.

Satellite: GOES-18


Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor


Timespan: 06/07/2023 15:00 - 06/08/2023 02:30 UTC

Smoky Skies Across the Midwest and Eastern United States

Description:

Another day of widespread smoke in skies across the Midwest and Eastern United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/07/2023 11:30 - 06/07/2023 22:50 UTC

Thick Wildfire Smoke Arrives in New York and New Jersey

Description:

Another round of extremely thick smoke arrives in New York and New Jersey.

Satellite: GOES-18


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/07/2023 15:10 - 06/07/2023 17:09 UTC

Another Round of Extremely Thick Smoke Pushes Across Northeast U.S.

Description:

Another round of extremely thick smoke sweeps across the Northeast United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/07/2023 12:30 - 06/07/2023 15:23 UTC

Large Wildfires Burn in Quebec

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor


Timespan: 06/06/2023 11:20 - 06/06/2023 23:30 UTC

Coastal Low Steers Heavy Smoke into Northeast United States

Description:

A broad view showing the coastal low pressure system responsible for steering heavy smoke across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/06/2023 11:20 - 06/06/2023 23:50 UTC

Heavy Smoke Overtakes Northeast Skies

Description:

A full day of thick smoke over the Northeast United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/06/2023 11:16 - 06/06/2023 22:51 UTC

Thick Smoke from Quebec Wildfires Pours into Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Description:

Wildfires in Quebec continues to pour thick smoke into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast U.S.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/05/2023 16:00 - 06/05/2023 23:00 UTC

Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Fills Eastern U.S. Skies

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 06/05/2023 11:41 - 06/05/2023 18:46 UTC

Smoke from Nova Scotia Fires Moves over Northeast United States

Description:

Smoke from the wildfires in Nova Scotia covers the skies over the Northeast United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 05/30/2023 11:01 - 05/30/2023 21:31 UTC

Fires in Nova Scotia Force Thousands to Evacuate

Description:

Wildfires in Nova Scotia have forced thousands of residents to evacuate the Halifax area.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 05/29/2023 10:31 - 05/29/2023 22:16 UTC

Large Smoke Swirl Arrives in North Central United States

Description:

Smoke from the Canadian wildfires has been wrapped in a weak are of low pressure diving south into the Northern United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 05/20/2023 13:00 - 05/21/2023 00:40 UTC

Numerous Wildfires Continue to Burn across Western Canada

Description:

Wildfires continue to burn across Western Canada.

Satellite: GOES-18


Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor


Timespan: 05/18/2023 15:30 - 05/19/2023 02:00 UTC

Wildfires and Thick Smoke Persist in Western Canada

Description:

Wildfires continue to burn across Western Canada filling the skies with thick smoke.

Satellite: GOES-18


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 05/17/2023 14:00 - 05/18/2023 02:00 UTC

Smoke Fills Skies from Plains to East Coast

Description:

Smoke from fires in Western Canada fills the skies from the Plains to the East Coast.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 05/17/2023 12:20 - 05/17/2023 18:50 UTC

Large Smoke Plume Stretches across North America

Description:

A large smoke plume nearly stretching across the entire North American continent.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 05/16/2023 12:00 - 05/16/2023 16:20 UTC

Extensive Fire and Smoke across Western Canada

Description:

Fire and smoke continues across Western Canada.

Satellite: GOES-18


Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor


Timespan: 05/15/2023 16:30 - 05/16/2023 02:00 UTC

Large Plume of Smoke Approaches United States

Description:

A large plume of smoke from the wildfires in Western Canada drifts south into the Central United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 05/15/2023 13:10 - 05/15/2023 23:50 UTC

Wildfires Continue across British Columbia and Alberta

Description:

Wildfires continue to burn across Western Canada. This view shows several large wildfires in British Columbia and Alberta.

Satellite: GOES-18


Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor


Timespan: 05/14/2023 17:00 - 05/15/2023 02:10 UTC

Smoke From Western Canada Fires Continues to Fill Northeast U.S. Skies

Description:

Smokes from the fires in Alberta continues to fill skies over the Northeast United States.

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 05/10/2023 11:01 - 05/10/2023 19:01 UTC

Alberta Smoke Reaches Northeast United States

Satellite: GOES-16


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 05/08/2023 12:00 - 05/08/2023 22:30 UTC

Three Day Time Lapse Shows Thick Smoke over Western Canada

Satellite: GOES-18


Product: GeoColor


Timespan: 05/05/2023 14:00 - 05/08/2023 02:50 UTC

Cluster of Large Wildfires Ablaze in Alberta, Canada

Satellite: GOES-18


Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor


Timespan: 05/05/2023 14:00 - 05/06/2023 01:50 UTC