Wildfire smoke engulfing Canada and swooping into the Northern U.S. made its way into Europe this week.
A haze was visible over the northwest Spanish coast in Vigo on Monday as Canadian wildfire smoke driven by the polar jet stream pushed across the Atlantic Ocean.
On Monday, Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) noted the visible wildfire smoke over southwestern Europe in satellite imagery.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, unlike the smoke the U.S. has been experiencing from the wildfires causing dangerous air quality, most of the smoke arriving in Europe remains lofted at higher altitudes causing hazy skies and colorful sunsets but less air quality concerns.
In recent weeks, European and NOAA satellites have been capturing the wildfire smoke and Saharan Dust plumes, both impacting air quality and the colors of sunrises and sunsets around the world.
Canadians are facing some of the worst air quality in the world as shifting winds and weather push the smoke into city centers.
Over the weekend, levels in Ottawa reached “high risk” on the Canadian Air Quality Health Index. The poor air quality was joined by a smoke-tinged sky over Canada’s capital city.
In the U.S., the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest regions are receiving the brunt of the wildfire smoke from Canada. Near-surface smoke is creating poor air quality for millions across the U.S.
NOAA’s GOES satellite imagery below shows the smoke plumes from Ontario pushing into Wisconsin and Illinois.
Sunsets on Lake Michigan this week have been hazy and fiery because of the smoke particles in the air.
The light-scattering effect of the smoke molecules causes the sky to turn several shades of orange and red.
Canada has more than 490 wildfires burning this week amid one of its worst wildfire seasons, which has scorched over 19 million acres.
Hot temperatures and dry conditions have contributed to Canada’s unusually active wildfire season, which typically peaks in the summer.