File:Wildfires Erupt in the Pacific Northwest (52451543079).png

English: This GOES-18 GeoColor image shows valley fog fading as smoke persists along the Pacific Northwest coast on Oct. 17, 2022.

As cooler temperatures descend across parts of North America, NOAA satellites observed fires erupting in the Pacific Northwest this month. Warm, dry and windy conditions brought some of the driest October weather conditions to the region, increasing the risk of wildfires. Since Jan. 1, 2022, 56,710 wildfires have burned 7,022,627 acres around the country. This is the most wildfires reported to date in the past 10 years. Currently, there are more than 333,213 acres burning across Oregon, the largest total area of any state. NOAA satellites provide potentially life-saving information in a dynamic fire environment. GOES East and GOES West frequently detect fires before they are spotted on the ground, which is particularly important in remote areas. The satellites also track fires in real-time, identify and track smoke, and determine a fire’s size and temperature. Suomi-NPP and NOAA-20 detect smaller and lower-temperature fires and provide nighttime fire detection. The data from these satellites are also critical to smoke models used by fire crews, first responders, and air traffic controllers. As conditions remain warm and dry, NOAA satellites stay on watch for wildfires.

Learn how NOAA satellites are monitoring fire conditions in this week's #EarthFromOrbit: https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/wildfires-erupt-the-pacific-northwest