WildfireSmokeUSA

Bismarck, North Dakota — Wildfire Smoke Forecast

Live PM2.5 and 48-hour smoke-model outlook — updated Oct 14, 7:38PM CDT

Current air quality and forecast

Now · observedGood 7 µg/m³ NowCast · latest 7 µg/m³ at Bismarck Residential
Next 48 hoursGood 0–3 µg/m³ · 3 models
Forecast peak3 µg/m³Oct 16, 10:00AM · 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
0–2 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 14, 9:00PM
Next 12 hours
0–2 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 8:00AM
Next 24 hours
0–2 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 9:00AM
Next 48 hours
0–3 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 16, 10:00AM
Next 24 hours — model comparison 3 models · 24-hour peak table
ModelPeak PM2.5Peak around
HRRR-Smoke (NOAA, 3 km)0 µg/m³Oct 15, 9:00AM
FireWork (ECCC)2 µg/m³Oct 15, 9:00AM
FireSmoke (UBC BlueSky)1 µg/m³Oct 14, 9:00PM

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

010201:00AM7:00AMµg/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 Other.

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.

Other status1 fire
98th ST SW
57 mi away · reported 2026-10-14 · ND
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 · 1 nearby monitors

ModelTypical errorTendency
FireWork2.4 µg/m³reads low 1.0
FireSmoke3.7 µg/m³reads low 3.7
HRRR-Smoke3.8 µg/m³reads low 3.8

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 North Dakota-wide forecast — every monitor, ranked →

More in North Dakota: Fargo