Visible on WeatherRadar: Canadian wildfire smoke reaches Europe

Smoke from severe wildfires in Canada, burning for weeks, has now arrived in Western Europe after crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Clouds of smoke which originate in the forest fires active in Quebec, Canada, reached Western Europe at the beginning of the week. First recorded over the Azores as fine dust and soot, particles were registered approaching Portugal and Spain.

The thin clouds of smoke were visible on the WeatherRadar as well as orbiting satellites.

Various phenomena accompany the smoke. With much of the particles suspended at high altitude, there is no major impact on air quality, but its presence will lead to greater cloud cover and rain.

The soot and dust have provided more particles in the higher troposphere for rain droplets to stick to. This is a crucial process in the formation of rain, which ultimately creates more clouds overhead.

At lower altitudes, where many of the particles have fallen away, there is an effect on solar radiation. Creating more vibrant sunrise and sunsets while making the sky appear hazy.

The journey of the smoke was propelled by prevailing westerly winds, these stretch over 3,000 kilometres east to west providing a helping hand to move the aerosol cloud towards Europe.

Meanwhile, Canada continues fighting the forest fires which created the cloud. On Sunday, Montreal recorded the worst air quality in the world, with warnings to residents in Quebec not to leave their homes.

Smoke has already spread over Canada and the US, hitting New York especially harshly. Read more about that below.