Live Wildfire Smoke Map & Tracker

Understanding the Wildfire Smoke Map

When wildfires burn, they release massive amounts of particulate matter and gases into the atmosphere. This interactive wildfire smoke tracker utilizes data directly from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hazard Mapping System (HMS) to visualize these smoke plumes in near-real-time.

By observing the wildfire smoke map today, you can track the trajectory of smoke as it travels across states and borders. This is critical for anticipating poor air quality days, especially for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.

How to Use the Smoke Tracker

The map above loads with the smoke layer enabled by default. You will see semi-transparent grey overlays indicating the presence of smoke.

Zoom and Pan: Navigate the map to see if smoke is approaching your local area.
Toggle Layers: Use the layer menu in the top right corner of the map to toggle active wildfires on or off, allowing you to see the exact source of the smoke plumes.
Air Quality Correlation: Areas covered by thick smoke overlays typically experience higher PM2.5 levels and degraded Air Quality Index (AQI).

Why Track Wildfire Smoke?

Wildfire smoke doesn't stay local. A large fire in California or Canada can send smoke plumes thousands of miles away, affecting air quality on the East Coast. Using a reliable wildfire smoke map helps communities prepare for hazy skies and hazardous breathing conditions days in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is the live wildfire smoke map?

The smoke map utilizes near-real-time data from NOAA's Hazard Mapping System (HMS), which integrates satellite imagery to precisely track the location and density of smoke plumes across North America.

How often is the wildfire smoke map updated?

NOAA updates the smoke plume data multiple times a day as new satellite imagery is processed, ensuring you have the latest information on smoke movement.

What do the different shades of smoke on the map mean?

The varying opacity or colors of the smoke polygons indicate the density of the smoke. Darker or more opaque areas represent thicker smoke, which can significantly impact local air quality (AQI).