Photos: Satellite imagery shows western Canada covered in a solid blanket of wildfire smoke
RAMMB-CIRA captured Alberta sitting under a thick blanket of wildfire smoke.
Blairmore area danger wildfire warning signage is shown in this handout image provided by the Government of Alberta Fire Service. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Government of Alberta Fire Service **MANDATORY CREDIT **
Heavy smokeshrouds the terminal at Denver International Airport Friday, May 19, 2023, in Denver. Smoke from numerous wildfires burning in the Canadian province of Alberta has rolled into Colorado, triggering air quality health advisory alerts across the state and giving Denver the ranking of third worst air quality of any major cities across the globe for the day. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The skyline is obscured as smoke from wildfires in Alberta rolls south early Friday, May 19, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Thick smoke from wildfires blankets the downtown for a second day in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Smoke in the air threw a wrench into the start of Calgary Stampeders' training camp, but there were still jobs to be earned and important pre-season reps to accomplish. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Motorists wait for a red light on westbound 18th Avenue at Park Avenue as smoke shrouds the skyline Friday, May 19, 2023, in downtown Denver. Smoke from numerous fires in the Canadian province of Alberta has rolled into Colorado Friday, giving Denver a ranking of third worst air quality of all major cities globally. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Education has issued an air quality health advisory alert as a result of the inflow of smoke across the Centennial State. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Jetliners taxi in heavy smoke at Denver International Airport Friday, May 19, 2023, in Denver. Smoke from numerous wildfires burning in the Canadian province of Alberta has rolled into Colorado, triggering air quality health advisory alerts across the state and giving Denver the ranking of third worst air quality of any major cities across the globe for the day. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A raven lands on the roof of a barn as thick smoke from wildfires obscures the sun near Cremona, Alta., Wednesday, May 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Wearing a protective mask, dog walker Leslie Kramer ventures out as heavy smoke from northern Alberta forest fires comes south to blanket the downtown area in Calgary, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. As air quality due to wildfire smoke remains poor in parts of Western Canada, health experts are advising people to stay inside as much as possible. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal
Thick smoke from wildfires blankets the downtown for a second day in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, May 17, 2023. The Alberta government says hot and dry conditions are expected to continue in the coming days, providing no relief for the roughly 2,500 people fighting wildfires in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue as wildfires throughout western Canada have forced thousands of evacuations and air quality warnings due to smoke as far east as northern Ontario.The Bald Mountain Wildfire is shown in the Grande Prairie Forest Area on Friday May 12, 2023 this handout image provided by the Government of Alberta. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Government of Alberta Fire Service
David Reid drives a seeding rig as he plants a Canola crop on the family farm while thick smoke from wildfires blankets the landscape near Water Valley, Alta., 100 kilometres northwest of Calgary, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The Alberta government says hot and dry conditions are expected to continue in the coming days, providing no relief for the roughly 2,500 people fighting wildfires in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Thick smoke from wildfires blankets the landscape as horses graze near Cremona, Alta., 100 kilometres northwest of Calgary, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The Alberta government says hot and dry conditions are expected to continue in the coming days, providing no relief for the roughly 2,500 people fighting wildfires in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Thick smoke from wildfires blankets the landscape near Water Valley, Alta., 100 kilometres northwest of Calgary, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The Alberta government says hot and dry conditions are expected to continue in the coming days, providing no relief for the roughly 2,500 people fighting wildfires in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Heavy smoke from northern Alberta forest fires comes south to blanket the Bow River area in downtown Calgary, Tuesday May 16, 2023. The Alberta government says hot and dry conditions are expected to continue in the coming days, providing no relief for the roughly 2,500 people fighting wildfires in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal
As wildfire smoke swirled, parts of Alberta have been some of the worst air quality on the planet this week, and severe smoke has blanketed Edmonton.
Hot temperatures and dry, windy conditions continue to challenge Alberta firefighters this weekend, as thick wildfire smoke settles over Edmonton and surrounding areas.
On Saturday, the air quality health index (AQHI) was at 10+ — very high risk, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada, which is forecasting similarly high levels of smoke pollution through the weekend.
"That very poor air quality now puts Alberta on the world map," meteorologist Jaclyn Whittal reported for The Weather Network, based on data from the index.
In fact, the cloud of smoke was so strong that the Colarado Department of Health and Environment issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for Northeast Colorado and parts of the Front Range, including Denver for wildfire smoke coming from fires burning in Canada.
Satellite captures blanket of smoke
The RAMMB-CIRA satellite imagery of western Canada showed Alberta sitting beneath a solid blanket of wildfire smoke.
Weather specialist Kyle Brittain tweeted the satellite images Saturday morning showing what Alberta looks like from space.