WildfireSmokeUSA

Grand Junction, 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 1 µg/m³ NowCast · latest 1 µg/m³ at Mesa County Public Health
Next 48 hoursGood 0–5 µg/m³ · 3 models
Forecast peak5 µg/m³Oct 16, 9:00PM · FireWork

No significant smoke is expected in the next 48 hours.

Air quality is good — ideal for outdoor activities.

Last 24 hours observed & next 48 hours forecast

20100now−24 h+24 h+48 hµg/m³

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
0–4 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 10:00AM
Next 24 hours
0–4 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 10:00AM
Next 48 hours
0–5 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 16, 9:00PM
Next 24 hours — model comparison 3 models · 24-hour peak table
ModelPeak PM2.5Peak around
HRRR-Smoke (NOAA, 3 km)0 µg/m³Oct 15, 2:00PM
FireWork (ECCC)4 µg/m³Oct 15, 10:00AM
FireSmoke (UBC BlueSky)0 µg/m³Oct 15, 3:00PM

Model values are for the nearest forecast grid cell to Grand Junction; 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 6 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%+)6 fires
Dry Creek
52 mi away · 316 acres · 100% contained · reported 2026-10-13 · CO
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
P-L Gulch
59 mi away · 1,580 acres · 100% contained · reported 2026-10-05 · CO
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
Slough Canyon
76 mi away · 4,774 acres · 80% contained · reported 2026-10-14 · UT
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
Keystone
82 mi away · 3,042 acres · 100% contained · reported 2026-10-07 · CO
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
Gold Mountain
84 mi away · 39,747 acres · 92% contained · reported 2026-10-13 · CO
distance measured to the incident point
Mostly contained (70%+)
Elk
92 mi away · 7,257 acres · 90% contained · reported 2026-10-01 · CO
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

5-day record · 1 nearby monitors

ModelTypical errorTendency
FireWork1.0 µg/m³no clear bias
HRRR-Smoke1.7 µg/m³reads low 1.7
FireSmoke2.1 µg/m³reads low 2.1

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.

Nearest monitoring stations

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

More in Colorado: Denver · Colorado Springs · Fort Collins · Durango