Solar production falls in US Midwest, Southeast amid wildfires and hurricanes

North American solar conditions in August were shaped by multiple severe phenomena, with both fire and storm activity leading to highly variable irradiance across the continent. Wildfire smoke from ongoing Canadian fires and tropical weather systems in the US southeast drove irradiance down in central and eastern regions, while high pressure systems in the northeast delivered above average solar conditions. These patterns led to notable regional contrasts in PV performance.

The most significant negative anomalies were observed in the central provinces of Canada and across the US Midwest and Southeast. Canadian wildfires, which have persisted throughout the summer, continued into August, blanketing Saskatchewan and Manitoba in smoke haze. This aerosol loading led to irradiance reductions of up to 15% in these provinces. Prevailing winds carried the smoke into midwestern US states including Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, where irradiance levels fell approximately 10% below climatological norms. These smoke impacts were visible in clear sky anomaly analyses, showing that irradiance was suppressed independent of cloud cover.

Further south and east, solar generation was constrained by an active Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Dexter, which developed early in August near the US Southeast coast, and later Category 5 Hurricane Erin, which remained offshore but influenced regional weather patterns, both suppressed irradiance in Georgia and the Carolinas. Even without a direct landfall, Hurricane Erin's extensive cloud shield reduced available sunlight across the region, contributing to monthly irradiance totals around 10% below average. Meanwhile the Great Plains were affected by enhanced convective activity with frequent thunderstorms leading to similarly reduced solar availability.

In contrast, northeastern parts experienced favorable solar conditions. High pressure systems dominated weather patterns in New England and eastern Canada, bringing clearer skies and boosting irradiance. ISO New England benefited from this pattern, with daily irradiance levels climbing to approximately 5.7 kWh/day, compared to the long-term August average of around 5 kWh/day. Ontario, Nova Scotia, and parts of Quebec similarly enjoyed sunnier-than-average conditions.

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