WildfireSmokeUSA

Yakima, 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 4 µg/m³ NowCast median across 11 monitors in Yakima Valley · range 2–7, highest at Sunnyside-S 16th
Next 48 hoursModerate 0–14 µg/m³ · 3 models
Forecast peak14 µg/m³Oct 16, 8:00PM · FireWork

No significant smoke is expected in the next 48 hours.

Air quality is good — ideal for outdoor activities.

Last 24 hours across Yakima Valley & next 48 hours forecast

24120now−24 h+24 h+48 hµg/m³
range across monitors

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

Forecast

Next 6 hours
0–5 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 14, 10:00PM
Next 12 hours
0–8 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 9:00AM
Next 24 hours
0–9 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 10:00AM
Next 48 hours
0–14 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 16, 8:00PM
Next 24 hours — model comparison 3 models · 24-hour peak table
ModelPeak PM2.5Peak around
HRRR-Smoke (NOAA, 3 km)0 µg/m³Oct 15, 1:00PM
FireWork (ECCC)9 µg/m³Oct 15, 10:00AM
FireSmoke (UBC BlueSky)0 µg/m³Oct 15, 3:00PM

Model values are for the nearest forecast grid cell to Yakima; 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 1 Not contained · 2 Partially contained · 4 Mostly contained (70%+) · 4 Other.

Not contained1 fire
WEST FORK
62 mi away · 310 acres · 16% contained · reported 2026-10-03 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Not contained
Partially contained2 fires
THREE QUEENS
66 mi away · 9,575 acres · 33% contained · reported 2026-10-12 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Partially contained
KING
70 mi away · 3,427 acres · 36% contained · reported 2026-10-03 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Partially contained
Mostly contained (70%+)4 fires
SECOND STREET
55 mi away · 1,149 acres · 100% contained · reported 2026-10-13 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
Hatch Grade
88 mi away · 9,584 acres · 100% contained · reported 2026-10-12 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
HIGH LAVA
92 mi away · 2,899 acres · 95% contained · reported 2026-10-08 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
LITTLE GIANT
99 mi away · 172,912 acres · 95% contained · reported 2026-10-15 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
Other status4 fires
BUMPING LAKE
42 mi away · 0 acres · reported 2026-10-12 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Containment not reported
ANCIENT LAKES
46 mi away · 15 acres · reported 2026-10-11 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Containment not reported
MCKINLEY
77 mi away · 0 acres · reported 2026-10-14 · WA
distance measured to the incident point
Containment not reported
Dorran Road
91 mi away · 200 acres · reported 2026-10-06 · OR
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 · 14 nearby monitors

ModelTypical errorTendency
FireWork3.1 µg/m³reads low 0.5
HRRR-Smoke4.8 µg/m³reads low 4.7
FireSmoke5.4 µg/m³reads low 3.3

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 Yakima Valley

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

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