Weather forecasts in Portugal are calling for skies "obscured by smoke particles" on Tuesday as Canada's persistent wildfires begin to affect Europe.
The plume of smoke and soot stretches for thousands of miles from the province of Quebec across the Atlantic Ocean, according to satellite images released on Monday.
The enormous band of smoke began reaching the Azores islands on Sunday and reached western Europe on Monday, according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere, or . The smoke is also affecting Spain, and other countries to the north.
Smoke isn't posing the same health risks in Europe
Unlike the low-lying smoke that triggered hazardous air quality alerts in the U.S. , the smoke that has reached Europe seems to be hanging higher in the air, at 1,100 meters (3,609 feet) and above, according to .
"Whilst the smoke is high up in the atmosphere, it may make for some vivid sunrises and sunsets in the next few days," , urging Brits to keep their phones handy to capture dramatic skylines.
France's skies are expected to reach a maximum concentration of ash particles on Wednesday, according to French broadcaster .
Canadians are still reeling from an intense fire season
The air may be unaffected in Europe, but people closer to the fires in Quebec and other provinces are being forced to cope with smoke. As of Tuesday morning, more than 140 communities were under air quality alerts, according to federal agency .
For now, there's no end in sight to the fires: Canada currently has nearly 500 wildfires burning, and more than half of them (258) are out of control, according to the . That's up from around 450 fires that were burning in mid-June.
"Already, the amount of land that's burned in Quebec this year is 10 times greater than what's been typical over the last few decades," as on Monday.
The smoke has also posed a recurring risk to people in the far northeastern U.S., depending on wind and other conditions. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection issued an , but it currently has no alerts in effect.
"With smoke there are so many variables at play that we don't normally issue a forecast beyond the next day," .
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