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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Wildfire Smoke Continues to Fill Midwest US Skies
Description:
Smoky skies continue to plague parts of the United States.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
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
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
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
Canadian Wildfire Smoke Pushes Southeast
Description:
Canadian wildfire smoke pushes southeast into the United States
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
Canada Wildfires Fills Midwest Skies with Smoke
Description:
Wildfire smoke continues to fill skies across North America.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
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
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
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
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
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
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
Smoke Lingers Across Entire Eastern United States
Description:
Wildfire smoke continues to linger across the Eastern United States.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
Large Fires Continue to Burn in Western Canada
Description:
Large wildfires continue to burn across Western Canada.
Satellite: GOES-18
Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor
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
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
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
Large Wildfires Burn in Quebec
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor
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
Heavy Smoke Overtakes Northeast Skies
Description:
A full day of thick smoke over the Northeast United States.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
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
Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Fills Eastern U.S. Skies
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
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
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
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
Numerous Wildfires Continue to Burn across Western Canada
Description:
Wildfires continue to burn across Western Canada.
Satellite: GOES-18
Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor
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
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
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
Extensive Fire and Smoke across Western Canada
Description:
Fire and smoke continues across Western Canada.
Satellite: GOES-18
Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor
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
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
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
Alberta Smoke Reaches Northeast United States
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
Three Day Time Lapse Shows Thick Smoke over Western Canada
Satellite: GOES-18
Product: GeoColor
Cluster of Large Wildfires Ablaze in Alberta, Canada
Satellite: GOES-18
Product: Fire Temperature, GeoColor