Where is the smoke in Utah coming from?

Smoke envelops trees as the Sugar Fire, part of the Beckwourth Complex Fire, burns in Doyle, Calif., Friday, July 9, 2021. | Noah Berger, Associated Press

Wildfires in Idaho, California, Oregon and Washington brought smoke into northern Utah Saturday, resulting in hazy skies and unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups, according to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

And officials are warning the Beehive State could get even smokier.

“Think the smoke today is bad? It could get worse!” the National Weather Service’s Salt Lake City office tweeted Saturday alongside a model depicting a three day smoke forecast.

Think the smoke today is bad? It could get worse! This model loop shows the smoke forecast from 3pm today through noon Monday. Darker reds and purple indicate higher concentrations of smoke. #utwx pic.twitter.com/Dh6MFznRUq

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) July 10, 2021

There are 23 fires currently burning in the aforementioned states, including three type one incidents in northern California and one in Oregon, according to the National Forest Service.

Type one refers to a “large, complex incident” requiring multi-agency and national resources, according to the National Parks Service.

One of those incidents is California’s largest fire of the year. Sparked on July 2, the Beckwourth Complex Fire has burned roughly 55,100 acres, the Sacramento Bee reported, prompting evacuation orders in eastern Plumas County roughly 45 miles north of Lake Tahoe.

A long satellite loop today reveals smoke moving in across the region from fires well upstream, with many of the larger fires across Oregon and northern California. #utwx #wywx pic.twitter.com/8q7dDltGCq

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) July 10, 2021

The smoky skies come as Utah and the West are in the midst of a historic drought. June was Utah’s hottest on record, according to the NWS, and an excessive heat warning remains in effect for most of the lower elevation parts of the state.

June was Utah's hottest on record, according to the
National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)'s newly-released statewide rankings. The previous hottest June was in 2015. Other states in dark red experienced a record hot June as well. #utwx pic.twitter.com/xAiwYmmXxx

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) July 10, 2021

In addition to Utah, eight states — Arizona, California, Idaho, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire and Rhode Island — experienced their hottest June on record, while six states — Connecticut, Maine, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming — saw their second hottest June, according to the NWS.

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