West is burning

This satellite image taken Monday evening July 30 shows large smoke plumes from Montana forest fires spreading into southern SK and southern MB. Residents may have noticed a hazy appearance to the sky today, as well as a redder than usual sunset or sunrise. This is due to the presence of smoke particles spreading through a layer in the mid atmosphere, about 10000 ft or so. The smoke layer will likely persist over southern MB on Tuesday before a northwest flow clears out the smoke layer on Wednesday.

Note also several other smoke plumes from forest fires over western Montana and the BC/Alberta border.. a result of several weeks of hot dry weather that has baked the upper Rockies and western Prairies. Forest fires have also been a problem over northern MB as well this month.