WildfireSmokeUSA

Columbus, Ohio — Wildfire Smoke Forecast

Live PM2.5 and 48-hour smoke-model outlook — updated Oct 14, 8:38PM EDT

Current air quality and forecast

Now · observedModerate 10 µg/m³ NowCast median across 5 monitors in Franklin · range 6–10, highest at Fairgrounds
Next 48 hoursGood 0–7 µg/m³ · 3 models
Forecast peak7 µg/m³Oct 14, 10:00PM · FireWork

No significant smoke is expected in the next 48 hours.

Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.

Last 24 hours across Franklin & next 48 hours forecast

39190now−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
0–7 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 14, 10:00PM
Next 12 hours
0–7 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 14, 10:00PM
Next 24 hours
0–7 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 14, 10:00PM
Next 48 hours
0–7 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 14, 10:00PM
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)7 µg/m³Oct 14, 10:00PM
FireSmoke (UBC BlueSky)0 µg/m³Oct 14, 10:00PM

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

010202:00AM8:00AMµg/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

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 · 5 nearby monitors

ModelTypical errorTendency
FireWork2.8 µg/m³no clear bias
FireSmoke6.1 µg/m³reads low 6.1
HRRR-Smoke6.5 µg/m³reads low 6.5

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 Franklin

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

More in Ohio: Cleveland · Cincinnati