Widespread Wildfires Produce Heavy Smoke Across Western Canada, Northwestern US

Wildfires across western Canada and the northwestern United States continue to produce heavy smoke plumes that spread eastward, affecting large areas including Alberta, Montana, North Dakota, and reaching as far as the Mid-Atlantic and New England. In California, multiple active wildfires, including the significant Park Fire which burned nearly 430,000 acres and destroyed over 700 structures, generate moderate-to-heavy smoke that drifts into neighboring states and merges with smoke from Canadian fires. NOAA has developed an experimental Hourly Wildfire Potential Index (HWP) to provide updated hourly forecasts of wildfire hazards, improving situational awareness and response based on weather and satellite data. Residents in wildfire-prone areas, such as Utah's Wildland/Urban Interface, are encouraged to take preventive measures at home, including clearing combustible materials within immediate and intermediate zones around properties to reduce fire risk. The ongoing wildfire activity and smoke dispersal underscore the importance of advanced forecasting tools and community preparedness to mitigate wildfire impacts and protect air quality.