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Smoke from wildfires in Canada turns US skies orange

Theola KirkpatrickBy No Comments
Smoke From Wildfires In Canada Turns Us Skies Orange
View on EarthSky Community Photos. | Stephen Montag in Fort Lee, New Jersey shared this comparison of a normal day versus June 7, 2023. Stephen wrote: “Right: View from my office of the George Washington Bridge in New Jersey on a 'normal' day. Left: Same view today, due to the wildfires in Canada. Scary and upsetting!” Thank you Stefan. Check out our gallery of images of wildfire smoke in Canada below.

Read more: Red suns and moons are from fires

Smoke from Canada's wildfires blankets the northeastern US

The northeastern United States is suffering from hazy skies and poor air quality due to wildfires in Quebec, Canada. NASA Earth Observatory he said that lightning started some of these fires. And the Quebec fire prevention agency he said that in an average year, they see about 300 hectares burned this time of year (as of this writing), but this year, more than 226,000 hectares (872 square miles) have already burned. The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore as well he said that fire smoke will affect the United States for the rest of the week, with concentrations rising and falling.

When under one air quality alert, people should consider modifying their activities and spending less time outdoors. It's okay to skip such a long run or move it indoors to a treadmill. Sensitive groups (children, the elderly, people with asthma, for example) may experience more serious health effects. You can check the map here to see which areas are under air quality alerts. And, as of this writing, New York has it the worst air quality in the world by a long shot.

Wildfire season in western Canada also broke out earlier this year, with smoke from those fires also affecting the US.

EarthSky community members share smoky photos

EarthSky community members living in the hard-hit areas have shared photos of what they're experiencing on the community photos page. You can submit your photo here.

Reddish sun in the deep gray sky behind a lamp post.
View on EarthSky Community Photos. | Nancy Riciliano in Long Island, New York, captured this image on June 7, 2023. Nancy wrote: “No, this is not the Strawberry Moonrise. This is the result of the wildfires in Canada. This is what the sky looked like all day. In New York, the US air quality index soared to “hazardous” levels. Pretty scary!” Thanks, Nancy.
A row of cars on the street with a smoker, a pale yellow dot on each windshield.
View on EarthSky Community Photos. | George Proteasa in Milford, Pennsylvania, captured this image on June 7, 2023. George wrote: “I saw a bunch of cars on the road and they all had this yellow-orange light on the windshield. URGENT? A convoy? Then I realized it's the reflection of the sun through the thick smog currently affecting the northeastern US. Air smoke should be visible in the image.” Thanks George.
Barely visible pink sun in a beige sky with a tree.
View on EarthSky Community Photos. | Lisa Ann Fanning in Monmouth, New Jersey captured this image on June 7, 2023. Lisa Ann wrote: “Sun disappearing behind smoke as it set. It was such an eerie feeling all day, with beige skies and the fresh scent of fires burning over 1,300 miles away! “Air quality for our region, not far across the bay from New York City, reached 'Hazardous' levels as businesses and schools closed as the day progressed.” Thank you, Lisa Ann.
Close-up of deep pink rose in dim light with pink sun on gray sky behind.
View on EarthSky Community Photos. | Chantal Torchia in Old Bridge, New Jersey, captured this image on June 7, 2023. Chantal wrote, “The sun still looks pink because of the smoke, and then when I went to get my mail and saw the pink rose bush, I thought to myself , how strangely beautiful it is, that the sun is now very colored like these flowers!' Thanks, Chantal!

Scenes of smoke filled skies

A look at wildfire smoke in Canada

Orbital view of the northeastern US. with thick tan bows over much of the land and white clouds further north.
This image from GOES-16 shows smoke sweeping across New York and Pennsylvania on the morning of June 7, 2023. Image via NASA Earth Observatory.
Canadian wildfire smoke: Satellite view of Quebec, Canada, with white streaks showing smoke flowing from wildfires.
This was the scene on June 3, 2023, over Quebec, Canada. Canadian wildfire smoke is now flowing across the Canada/US border in the northeastern US The Moderate Resolution Imaging SpectroradiometerMODIS) at NASA Aqua the satellite recorded this view. Image via NASA/ MODIS.

Fire danger in areas to the northeast

And – to add fuel to the fire – parts of the Northeast are on critical fire alert from Michigan to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. On June 6, 2023, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center he said the northeast would have:

… dry and windy conditions conducive to fire spread, along with the highly unusual possibility of dry lightning strikes in the mid-Atlantic.

More smoke than fire

Other northern regions of the US and, of course, parts of Canada are also dealing with fire smoke.

Bottom line: Smoke from Canada's wildfires drifting across the border is turning the skies milky white in the northeastern U.S. Poor air quality will remain in those areas for much of the week.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

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About the Author:

Kelly Kizer Whitt has been a science writer specializing in astronomy for more than two decades. She began her career at Astronomy Magazine and has been a regular contributor to AstronomyToday and the Sierra Club, among other outlets. Her children's picture book, Solar System Forecast, was published in 2012. She has also written a dystopian novel for young adults entitled A Different Sky. When she's not reading or writing about astronomy and gazing at the stars, she enjoys traveling to national parks, crossword puzzles, running, tennis, and paddleboarding. Kelly lives in Wisconsin.

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