It is only mid-June and we are already looking at large-scale wildland fire smoke issues.

These maps predict the distribution of smoke at 6 p.m. MDT today, June 16, 2021.

Vertically integrated smoke depicts all of the smoke in a vertical column, including smoke high in Earth’s atmosphere and can produce red sunrises and sunsets. In some cases where it is only at high altitudes it may not be very noticeable on the ground.

Near-surface smoke refers to the smoke that will hover within 8 meters (26 feet) of the ground—the kind responsible for burning eyes and aggravated asthma.