This data set contains MODIS-derived daily mean shortwave blue sky albedo for North America above 40 degrees North and a set of quality control flags for each albedo value to aid in user interpretation. The data cover the period of available MODIS data, February 24, 2000 through April 22, 2017. The blue sky albedo data were derived from the MODIS 500-m bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) product (MCD43 V006). Blue sky refers to albedo calculated under real-world conditions with a combination of both diffuse and direct lighting based on atmospheric and view-geometry conditions. Daily mean albedo was calculated by averaging hourly instantaneous blue sky albedo values weighted by the solar insolation for each time interval.