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An intimate knowledge of aerosol transport is essential in reducing the uncertainty of the impacts of aerosols on cloud development. Data sets from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement platform in the Southern Great Plains region (ARM‐SGP) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA‐2), showed seasonal increases in aerosol loading and total carbon concentration during the spring and summer months (2008–2016) which was attributed to fire activity and smoke transport within North America. The monthly mean MERRA‐2 surface carbonaceous aerosol mass concentration and ARM‐SGP total carbon products were strongly correlated (R = 0.82, p < 0.01) along with a moderate correlation with the ARM‐SGP cloud condensation nuclei (NCCN) product (0.5, p ~ 0.1). The monthly mean ARM‐SGP total carbon and NCCN products were strongly correlated (0.7, p ~ 0.01). An additional product denoting fire number and coverage taken from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) showed a moderate correlation with the MERRA‐2 carbonaceous product (0.45, p < 0.01) during the 1981–2016 warm season months (March–September). With respect to meteorological conditions, the correlation between the NIFC fire product and MERRA‐2 850‐hPa isobaric height anomalies was lower (0.26, p ~ 0.13) due to the variability in the frequency, intensity, and number of fires in North America. An observed increase in the isobaric height anomaly during the past decade may lead to frequent synoptic ridging and drier conditions with more fires, thereby potentially impacting cloud/precipitation processes and decreasing air quality. Plain Language Summary: Aerosols have complex impacts on cloud development and air quality. This study seeks to illustrate and quantify climatological trends and impacts of carbonaceous smoke aerosols generated from fire activity in North America. In the presence of rising air motion (e.g., updrafts) and sufficient moisture, the smoke aerosols can become cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). The CCN eventually become cloud droplets which gather together to form clouds which may or may not precipitate depending on available moisture and updraft strength. Long‐term, surface‐based observation data from the Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement facility in the Southern Great Plains region (ARM‐SGP), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Second‐Generation Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA‐2) product, and the National Interagency Fire Product show the regional and seasonal behavior and transport of the smoke aerosols derived from fires in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Since 2010, during the warm season months (March–September), numerous fires due to anomalously dry weather patterns have been observed in North America and likely increased the amount of carbonaceous smoke aerosols and potentially CCN, though the overall atmospheric aerosol burden has noticeably decreased. Key Points: There are seasonal influences of carbonaceous aerosols derived from fire activity during the spring and summer months in North AmericaAnomalous meteorological conditions are responsible for aerosol transport and subsequent impacts on cloud development and air qualityThe anomalies have become more frequent and stronger during the past decade coinciding with increased fire activity and aerosol generation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]