WildfireSmokeUSA

Bellingham, Washington — Wildfire Smoke Forecast

Live PM2.5 and 48-hour smoke-model outlook — updated Oct 14, 8:09PM PDT

Current air quality and forecast

Now · observedGood 5 µg/m³ NowCast median across 2 monitors in Lowlands of Western Whatcom County · range 4–5, highest at Bellingham Pacific
Next 48 hoursModerate 0–34 µg/m³ · 3 models
Forecast peak34 µg/m³Oct 16, 3:00AM · FireSmoke

No significant smoke is expected in the next 48 hours.

Air quality is good — ideal for outdoor activities.

Last 24 hours across Lowlands of Western Whatcom County & next 48 hours forecast

36180now−24 h+24 h+48 hµg/m³
range across monitors

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

Forecast

Next 6 hours
0–15 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 14, 11:00PM
Next 12 hours
0–15 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 14, 11:00PM
Next 24 hours
0–16 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 9:00PM
Next 48 hours
0–34 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 16, 3:00AM
Next 24 hours — model comparison 3 models · 24-hour peak table
ModelPeak PM2.5Peak around
HRRR-Smoke (NOAA, 3 km)0 µg/m³Oct 14, 10:00PM
FireWork (ECCC)16 µg/m³Oct 15, 9:00PM
FireSmoke (UBC BlueSky)6 µg/m³Oct 15, 12:00PM

Model values are for the nearest forecast grid cell to Bellingham; 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)

0102011:00PM5:00AM11:00AMµg/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 2 Partially contained · 4 Mostly contained (70%+) · 1 Other.

Not contained0 fires

No not contained fires are reported in this state.

Partially contained2 fires
Luna
58 mi away · 8,553 acres · 42% contained · reported 2026-10-11 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Partially contained
SISI
80 mi away · 4,615 acres · 34% contained · reported 2026-10-15 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Partially contained
Mostly contained (70%+)4 fires
Electric
48 mi away · 495 acres · 100% contained · reported 2026-10-10 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
Border 2
68 mi away · 9,108 acres · 74% contained · reported 2026-10-11 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
PTARMIGAN
86 mi away · 25,566 acres · 90% contained · reported 2026-10-08 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
LITTLE GIANT
90 mi away · 172,912 acres · 95% contained · reported 2026-10-15 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
Other status1 fire
LITTLE BEAR
65 mi away · 0 acres · reported 2026-10-12 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Containment not reported

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 · 6 nearby monitors

ModelTypical errorTendency
FireSmoke4.2 µg/m³reads low 4.0
FireWork4.3 µg/m³reads high 3.3
HRRR-Smoke4.3 µg/m³reads low 4.1

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 Lowlands of Western Whatcom County

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

More in Washington: Seattle · Spokane · Yakima · Wenatchee · Kennewick · Olympia · Walla Walla · Omak · Vancouver