WildfireSmokeUSA

Fort Collins, Colorado — Wildfire Smoke Forecast

Live PM2.5 and 48-hour smoke-model outlook — updated Oct 14, 9:09PM MDT

Current air quality and forecast

Now · observedGood 2 µg/m³ NowCast median across 2 monitors in Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County · range 2–2, highest at Bethke Elementary
Next 48 hoursModerate 0–11 µg/m³ · 3 models
Forecast peak11 µg/m³Oct 16, 10:00PM · FireWork

No significant smoke is expected in the next 48 hours.

Air quality is good — ideal for outdoor activities.

Last 24 hours across Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County & next 48 hours forecast

20100now−24 h+24 h+48 hµg/m³
range across monitors

Background bands (US EPA AQI, 24-h basis): ■ Good · ■ Moderate

Forecast

Next 6 hours
0–3 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 14, 11:00PM
Next 12 hours
0–3 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 14, 11:00PM
Next 24 hours
0–3 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 14, 11:00PM
Next 48 hours
0–11 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 16, 10:00PM
Next 24 hours — model comparison 3 models · 24-hour peak table
ModelPeak PM2.5Peak around
HRRR-Smoke (NOAA, 3 km)0 µg/m³Oct 15, 11:00AM
FireWork (ECCC)3 µg/m³Oct 14, 11:00PM
FireSmoke (UBC BlueSky)0 µg/m³Oct 15, 10:00AM

Model values are for the nearest forecast grid cell to Fort Collins; FireSmoke, FireWork and HRRR are independent and often disagree — treat the highest available value as the cautious planning number.

Observations and NowCast are total PM2.5 — wildfire smoke plus every other source — as regulatory monitors measure it, and FireWork models that same total. FireSmoke and HRRR-Smoke estimate the wildfire contribution only, so they read lower than the monitors whenever other sources matter. The optional map plume surfaces are likewise fires-only.

Sky vs. ground

Little smoke at the surface or overhead.

Sky right now
Overcast — no smoke

● At the ground · ● Overhead (if mixed down)

0102012:00AM6:00AM12:00PMµg/m³

Overhead smoke dims the sun but is not what you breathe. The dashed line shows the surface level if the whole column mixed through the boundary layer — a worst case, not a forecast · Data: NOAA HRRR-Smoke; cloud cover is from the model, not observed

Nearby fires

100 mi radius

Within 100 mi, agencies report 1 Mostly contained (70%+).

Not contained0 fires

No not contained fires are reported in this state.

Partially contained0 fires

No partially contained fires are reported in this state.

Mostly contained (70%+)1 fire
Moonshine
95 mi away · 7,325 acres · 100% contained · reported 2026-10-06 · WY
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)

Proximity and wind direction do not prove that a fire caused smoke at this location. Source: National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC); incident points and containment as reported by the responsible agencies.

Forecast track record here

29-day record · 5 nearby monitors

ModelTypical errorTendency
FireWork2.9 µg/m³reads high 1.1
HRRR-Smoke4.5 µg/m³reads low 4.5
FireSmoke4.6 µg/m³reads low 4.6

Mean absolute error and average tendency in µg/m³, from forecasts verified 0–6 hours ahead at monitors within 50 km. A short-range record, not a measure of how far ahead a model stays reliable. FireSmoke and HRRR model wildfire smoke only, so they read below the monitors whenever other sources of PM2.5 matter.

Monitors in Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County

See the Colorado-wide forecast — every monitor, ranked →

More in Colorado: Denver · Colorado Springs · Grand Junction · Durango