Astronauts aboard the International Space Station photographed Mount Hood and Mount Rainier under heavy smoke in late July and early August 2026, as wildland fires in the Pacific Northwest expanded amid hot, dry conditions and shifting winds.
What the images show
The images, published by NASA’s Earth Observatory as an Image of the Day on 13 August 2026, capture smoke plumes that made a striking contrast with the region’s glaciated volcanoes. Mount Hood (3,429 metres), Oregon’s tallest peak, appears near a dense plume from the Grasshopper fire. According to incident reports, thunderstorms and a lightning strike on 23 July ignited the blaze; by 12 August it had burned nearly 84,000 acres (34,000 hectares) and spread beyond national forest boundaries.
Roughly 160 kilometres to the north, Mount Rainier (4,392 metres), Washington’s highest peak, was wreathed in smoke in the 4 August photograph. No major fire was burning immediately adjacent to the mountain on that date; instead, smoke had been transported from central and eastern parts of the state by easterly winds associated with a high-pressure system offshore.
Local impacts and fire status
Incident updates cited alongside the imagery record that several communities in Wasco County, Oregon, were placed under "go now" evacuation orders, while the town of Dufur was advised to prepare for immediate evacuation as the Grasshopper fire moved north and east across Mount Hood National Forest.
At Mount Rainier National Park, air quality deteriorated on the day the photo was taken. The National Park Service reported concentrations of fine particulate matter — PM2.5 — that reached unhealthy levels for park visitors and staff. Several days after the NASA photograph, the Grand Park 2 fire was observed inside the park about 5 kilometres north of the Sunrise Visitor Center. As of 12 August, that fire had burned 223 acres (90 hectares) and remained uncontained; authorities had not yet determined its cause.
Why PM2.5 matters
PM2.5 refers to airborne particles with diameters of 2.5 micrometres or less. Because they are so small, these particles penetrate deep into the lungs and can aggravate cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Air-quality agencies commonly use PM2.5 concentrations to determine whether smoke poses a public-health risk; "unhealthy" air-quality designations signal that sensitive groups and even the general public may experience health effects.
Fire outlook and broader context
The National Interagency Fire agencies’ seasonal outlooks for the region warned of above-normal fire potential through August, driven by persistent heat and dry fuels. In the Pacific Northwest, thunderstorms that produce lightning but little rain can ignite multiple new fires, as happened with the Grasshopper fire. Winds aloft and surface pressure patterns then determine whether smoke remains local or is transported hundreds of kilometres, affecting distant parks and communities.
- Key local fires in the NASA coverage:
- Grasshopper fire (east of Mount Hood): ~84,000 acres (34,000 ha) as of 12 August.
- Grand Park 2 fire (Mount Rainier National Park): 223 acres (90 ha) and uncontained as of 12 August.
- Health advisory: Elevated PM2.5 prompted "unhealthy" air-quality reporting in parts of Mount Rainier National Park on 4 August.
- Drivers: Lightning ignition, hot dry conditions, and an offshore high-pressure system that channelled smoke inland.
| Feature | Elevation | Fire / status (as of 12 Aug) |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Hood | 3,429 m | Near Grasshopper fire — ~84,000 acres (34,000 ha) |
| Mount Rainier | 4,392 m | Smoke from distant fires; Grand Park 2 — 223 acres (90 ha), uncontained |
These satellite and astronaut photographs serve as a timely reminder that wildfire activity and smoke transport are regional phenomena. Even where no large fire is burning locally, smoke can impair air quality and visibility, affect visitor safety in national parks, and complicate firefighting and evacuation planning.
For communities and visitors in affected areas, authorities typically recommend: minimise outdoor exertion during heavy smoke, follow local evacuation instructions, and consult official incident updates for changing conditions.
