WildfireSmokeUSA

Louisville, Kentucky — Wildfire Smoke Forecast

Live PM2.5 and 48-hour smoke-model outlook — updated Oct 14, 11:09PM EDT

Current air quality and forecast

Now · observedGood 5 µg/m³ NowCast median across 6 monitors in Jefferson · range 4–7, highest at Watson
Next 48 hoursModerate 0–19 µg/m³ · 3 models
Forecast peak19 µg/m³Oct 15, 8:00AM · FireWork

No significant smoke is expected in the next 48 hours.

Air quality is good — ideal for outdoor activities.

Last 24 hours across Jefferson & 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
0–12 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 5:00AM
Next 12 hours
0–19 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 8:00AM
Next 24 hours
0–19 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 8:00AM
Next 48 hours
0–19 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 8:00AM
Next 24 hours — model comparison 3 models · 24-hour peak table
ModelPeak PM2.5Peak around
HRRR-Smoke (NOAA, 3 km)0 µg/m³Oct 15, 1:00AM
FireWork (ECCC)19 µg/m³Oct 15, 8:00AM
FireSmoke (UBC BlueSky)1 µg/m³Oct 15, 1:00AM

Model values are for the nearest forecast grid cell to Louisville; 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
Clear sky

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

010202:00AM8:00AM2:00PMµg/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

No active incidents are reported within 100 mi.

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%+)0 fires

No mostly contained (70%+) fires are reported in this state.

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 · 7 nearby monitors

ModelTypical errorTendency
FireWork3.3 µg/m³reads high 1.5
FireSmoke6.5 µg/m³reads low 6.3
HRRR-Smoke7.2 µg/m³reads low 7.2

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 Jefferson

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

More in Kentucky: Lexington