Smoke subsides for some in the state, effects continue elsewhere

Smoke is still in the picture on Friday, but the Air Quality Health Advisory area is smaller than yesterday. Some areas in Colorado will see improved air quality today, but smoke from fires in-state and to our north will impact northern Colorado, southwest Colorado, and the northern Front Range.

What's driving this change? A shift in the upper- level winds. Earlier this week, upper-level winds from the west brought smoke into Colorado from Utah and Nevada. Today, the upper-level winds have shifted, coming out of the northwest. So today, the smoke from the Pacific Northwest will hit northern Colorado, but many counties on the Western Slope are getting a break.

Air Quality Alerts remain in effect for some parts of Colorado, but the area has shrunk significantly since yesterday.

In northern Colorado, smoke from out-of-state fires is still lingering. A blanket of heavy smoke hangs over the northwest corner of the United States, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Colorado is on the southeastern edge of this smoke, so northern counties in Colorado are seeing the impacts. 

Heavy smoke is impacting much of the northwest. Image from the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.

In the Northern Front Range, smoke from out-of-state fires is sticking around. Moderate smoke and haze are possible in Fort Collins, Greeley, and the Denver Metro area today. High ozone is also expected on Friday afternoon, so take precautions if you are sensitive to smoke or ozone.

In southwestern Colorado, the Elk Fire, Gold Mountain Fire, and Rio Blanco Fire are producing smoke. Moderate to heavy smoke is possible on Friday and Saturday morning.  An Air Quality Health Advisory is in effect.

Finally, the 310 Fire is burning in Garfield County, near Parachute. We do not expect heavy smoke from this fire today, but we will update the blog if that changes.

If smoke is heavy in your area, take steps to limit your exposure and protect your health if possible.

Areas of smoke remaining on Thursday with a slight shift

Wildfire smoke will remain in the conversation for many areas of Colorado on Thursday and Friday. There is a bit of difference between the source of smoke for different areas, yet the outcome is much the same. Let's go through it all.

Western and southwestern Colorado will continue to receive smoke from fires in Utah and Nevada. The Elk and Rio Blanco fires in Colorado will also add smoke to the mix. All of these fires remain active, with hot, dry, and breezy weather, so smoke will remain a concern.

Northwestern and central Colorado, the Front Range, and portions of the eastern plains will receive smoke transported from the northwestern US. Many fires continue to burn in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and the Pacific Northwest, sending smoke toward Colorado. Smoke will follow upper level winds into our area, and will descend to the surface. The locations that will see the most surface smoke depends on influences from terrain and vertical mixing of the atmosphere. This pattern shifts each day, so the footprint of the advisory has changed on Thursday. El Paso and Pueblo Counties were removed from the Smoke Advisory, and Morgan County was added.

Map of fire incidents from InciWeb, the national fire incident information system. Map shows the multitude of fires that may affect Colorado air quality. Note: Not all incidents shown may be active.

This does not mean that other areas of Colorado will be smoke-free. We expect hazy skies and light to moderate levels of smoke to be present in all areas of the state.

We encourage everyone statewide to remain aware of the potential for quickly changing levels of smoke, especially in areas covered by advisories and alerts. Reduce heavy physical exertion if possible, and be prepared to take actions to reduce health impacts due to smoke.

We will end this post with a glimmer of hope, and a bit of caution. The large scale weather pattern is expected to shift, beginning on Friday. This will push smoke from upwind states further north, and may reduce impacts in some areas of Colorado. We hope that this change brings some relief from the impacts from smoke. Caution remains in this message because this shift in weather will bring increasing temperatures back to Colorado. Hot and dry weather may pose its own risks to fire behavior and public health.

Hang in there folks. We will keep updates coming so you can stay informed.

Potential for heavy smoke continues for western and central Colorado, with some improvement for the eastern plains

Air quality remains a concern across large parts of Colorado. It's a complex scenario so let's move from west to east across the state.

Western and central Colorado are seeing a wide variety of air quality conditions Wednesday morning. There is somewhat heavy smoke in parts of the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. This is especially true in some of the higher terrain to the west and southwest of Telluride and Silverton. Lower smoke levels can be found further north in Grand Junction, Aspen and Steamboat Springs. However, the Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke will be extended for the entire Western Slope until at least 9am Thursday. Why is this, if some areas are currently seeing lower levels of smoke? 

First, wildfires to the west and northwest of Colorado remain very active. The satellite image below from yesterday afternoon shows massive smoke plumes in Idaho and Utah moving from west to east.

GeoColor satellite image Tuesday afternoon of smoke plumes to the west of Colorado. Satellite image courtesy of Colorado State University's CIRA Slider

Some of the smoke from those plumes yesterday is likely over Colorado this morning. That smoke could mix down to the surface over central and western Colorado by this afternoon. Additionally, those fires are likely to be active again today and send more smoke in the direction of Colorado.

Second, red flag warnings are in effect today for large sections of central and western Colorado. If new wildfires start today, that will add even more smoke to the atmosphere. We also need to keep an eye on ongoing wildfires across the state. These include the Elk fire north of Lake City, the Rio Blanco fire south of Pagosa Springs, and the Indian Creek fire near Rabbit Ears Pass between Kremmling and Walden. The Elk and Indian Creek fires are especially concerning today as both lie within the red flag warning zone.

Further east, the Interstate 25 corridor is also seeing elevated levels of particle pollution Wednesday morning. This includes Ft. Collins southward through Denver and Colorado Springs to Pueblo. We are not expecting additional smoke in these areas today, but there is enough smoke currently along with normal urban pollution to keep all of these areas under an advisory today. Please keep in mind that along with particle pollution, high ozone will also likely be an issue today around the Denver metro area, Boulder, Longmont, Greeley, and Ft. Collins.

Webcam image looking west from Monument Hill/Kelly Air Park between Denver and Colorado Springs. Webcam image courtesy of Federal Aviation Administration WeatherCams

The one area removed from yesterday's advisory is the eastern plains. This includes most areas to the east of Interstate 25. Although we are not expecting see rapid improvement in air quality across the plains today, current smoke levels are in the moderate category and we are not anticipating any additional smoke through at least tomorrow morning.  The latest county advisory map of Colorado is below.

Map of current air quality advisories in Colorado

Colorado fires flaring up

The Elk fire to the north of Lake City in northern Hinsdale County has flared up on Tuesday with the increasingly hot and dry weather conditions. This entire area is already under an Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke due to smoke being transported from outside of Colorado (see this morning's blog post below for more information).  But the smoke from this fire will only make air quality worse in locations near the fire. 

Downwind smoke impacts could be felt to the east of the fire in northern parts of the San Luis Valley, including Saguache. Overnight, smoke could get heavy to the north of Lake City along Highway 149.

Meanwhile, the Rio Blanco fire to the south of Pagosa Springs in Archuleta County is also showing an increase in activity. This fire is a bit more isolated, so public health impacts will likely be more limited to areas in very close vicinity to the fire. One thing to keep in mind is that not only particle pollution is elevated in Archuleta County. Ozone is pretty high too, so an advisory for multiple pollutants has been issued for both Archuleta and La Plata counties, including the Southern Ute reservation.

Band 7 shortwave satellite image of the Elk and Rio Blanco fires in southwestern Colorado. CIRA slider image courtesy of Colorado State University

Smoke to affect all areas of Colorado on Tuesday and Wednesday

Wildfire smoke from several western states will affect air quality in Colorado on Tuesday and into Wednesday. An Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke has been issued for all counties in Colorado.

The reason that the advisory covers such a large area is that there are several ways that smoke is moving into our state. Fires in Utah and Nevada are producing large plumes that are moving east. This smoke is now in western areas of Colorado, and will move further south and east on Tuesday. These fires were very active on Monday. Large columns of smoke rising into the atmosphere are seen on the left side of the image below. 

Late in the day on Monday, a cold front pushed additional smoke into eastern and central Colorado. This is seen in the upper right areas of the image below.

Satellite image of smoke arriving in Colorado at 7 pm MDT on Monday August 3, 2026. Transport is from the west due to fires in Utah and Nevada, and from the northeast due to fires in several upwind states. Image courtesy CSU/CIRA/NOAA.

As all of this smoke moves through our region, we expect levels of fine particulates to create air quality impacts in all areas of Colorado. Concentrations will likely differ in time and place. However we want to stress that the potential for smoke will be present across all of Colorado on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. Please remain aware of air quality conditions in your area, and take steps to reduce health impacts.

Air Quality Health Advisory has been expanded

 

An Aerosol Optical Depth image reveals heavy smoke (red shading) in the atmosphere over large sections of Colorado

Wildfire smoke from multiple fires across the western United States is having big air quality impacts in Colorado. The Air Quality Health Advisory that was issued Monday morning for several counties has been expanded. In addition to the communities we mentioned in the last blog post below, places like Rifle, Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Fairplay, Canon City, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo will also be impacted by periods of moderate to heavy smoke. Please take action to protect your health from wildfire smoke.

The northern Front Range region will not be spared. A cold front is pushing towards northeastern Colorado. That cold front will likely bring smoke with it from Wyoming and western Nebraska. Be prepared for smoke to increase again tonight in Greeley, Ft. Collins and southward into the Denver metro area. Along with increased particle pollution, the smoke could also enhance ozone across the northern Front Range during the afternoons and evenings.

Heavier smoke (orange and red dots) will move southward into Colorado Monday night with a cold front. Map courtesy of the EPA's Fire and Smoke Map

The upper level winds will likely continue to transport smoke in the direction of Colorado over the next few days, so please remain alert to rapidly changing air quality conditions in your area.

Starting the week with wildfire smoke across parts of northern Colorado

Wildfire smoke has made a return after a few weeks of relatively good air quality across northwestern Colorado. Elevated levels of fine particulate matter can be found Monday morning in Craig, Steamboat Springs, Walden and Granby. Some smoke has even spread as far east as northern parts of the Front Range region, including Ft. Collins and Boulder.  An Air Quality Health Advisory has been issued for all of these areas through 9am Tuesday morning.

Counties currently under an Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke, shaded dark grey. The map and advisory information can be found at the CDPHE air quality webpage

Several wildfires in Nevada and Utah are the origin of this smoke. However, an additional dose of wildfire smoke may arrive later this afternoon and evening from the north as many fires also remain active across the northwestern United States. With the upper level winds shifting over the next 24 hours, it is possible that Colorado could be contending with a prolonged stretch of wildfire smoke conditions this week. Please continue to follow the blog as the outlook could change rapidly over the next few days.

Smoke returning to Colorado heading into the weekend

After a welcome break from the many smoke impacts we saw this month, smoke from wildfires will begin to affect Colorado once again. There will be widely varying conditions found throughout the state, so let's take a bit of a tour to discuss potential impacts.

The only fire in Colorado that is producing notable amounts of smoke is the Rio Blanco Fire in southern Archuleta County, south of Pagosa Springs. This fire has produced significant plumes of smoke at times, yet much of the smoke has lifted away from the surface during daytime hours. Overnight, smoke appears to follow drainages in this area. Smoke may move along Rio Blanco and County Road 335, moving southwest toward the Southern Ute Reservation. No Advisory has been issued for this area. We will watch the situation closely and provide updates. We urge folks in this area to remain aware of air quality conditions, and take action to avoid or reduce impacts if smoke is present in your location.

Map showing the location of the Rio Blanco Fire in southwest Colorado. Image courtesy of InciWeb.

Elsewhere, smoke from fires outside of Colorado are having mild to moderate impacts. Smoke from fires in the Pacific Northwest has followed winds in the upper atmosphere into northeastern Colorado, including the Front Range. Surface concentrations have been limited, only reaching Moderate on the AQI scale. This is expected to continue on Friday and into the weekend. However, folks in eastern Colorado will notice hazy skies and light to moderate levels of fine particulates at times.

Satellite image showing smoke over Colorado at 7 pm MDT on Thursday July 30, 2026. Most of the smoke in this image remains aloft and is not creating significant surface impacts. Image courtesy CIRA/CSU/NOAA.

On the western slope of Colorado a similar story may unfold as smoke from fires in Utah and Nevada head into our state. Surface observations have shown only light concentrations of smoke so far. Hazy skies are likely and there is potential for particulate concentrations to increase. Moderate levels of smoke are possible if these fires remain active and atmospheric conditions bring smoke into our state.

For now, smoke conditions in Colorado are not expected to reach the level of concern that was present in early and mid July. If this changes, we will provide more information here, and may issue advisories for areas that are affected. We always want to keep everyone informed of current conditions and expectations so you can make appropriate decisions for your health, in your location.

Improved smoke conditions for Wednesday

Today, wildfire smoke is expected to be minimal across Colorado. This includes locations near the Aspen Acres Fire, which saw heavy smoke earlier this week. Overnight, rain helped to clear the smoke. For Wednesday and Thursday, Good to Moderate air quality is expected in Beulah, Rye, Colorado City, and Pueblo.

Yesterday, there were widespread rain showers on the Western Slope. The fires burning in western Colorado- Elk, Gold Mountain, Willow, and Fishhook- did not grow significantly on Tuesday. Today, these fires are not expected to produce heavy smoke. Expect Good to Moderate air quality today in locations near these fires.

Here's what's coming next. This afternoon, rain is expected across the Western Slope. Eastern Colorado will start to see showers late Wednesday evening into Thursday. Another dose of rain is coming on Thursday. Rainy weather will continue to clear out residual smoke and limit fire growth this week. 

New wildfire start in northwestern Colorado

A new fire has emerged in Moffat County, approximately 12 miles southwest of Craig, CO. The Yampa Fire (also called the Fuhr Gulch Fire) is estimated to be between 100-500 acres. Smoke from this fire may be visible along Highway 13 between Axial and Craig, along Highway 40 west of Craig, as well as from other locations in this area. Smoke may settle in low lying terrain along the Yampa River overnight Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Remain aware of air quality conditions if in this area, and take action to protect your health if smoke becomes thick in your location.

Tuesday update for Aspen Acres smoke

 Smoke from the Aspen Acres Fire will continue on Tuesday, but changes will arrive later this week.

This morning, smoke is heavy in Rye, Colorado City, and Beulah. An Air Quality Health Advisory remains in effect for these locations until 9 am Wednesday. However, we are tracking changes that may improve the smoke situation this week.

Tuesday afternoon, there is a slight chance of thunderstorms near the fire. As the week goes on, the chance for thunderstorms and measurable rain increases. Gusty winds from these storms may help to clear out smoke, while rain could slow fire growth. In other words, air quality might improve throughout this week. As these storms roll through, we will update the blog with any air quality changes.

Smoke has arrived to northeastern Colorado

 

A hazy Denver skyline Tuesday morning via the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division webcam

Canadian wildfire smoke has increased particle pollution levels all across northeastern Colorado Tuesday morning. Although the smoke is not nearly as heavy as what was experienced across the eastern United States last week, it is noticeable with poor visibility throughout the region.

Although smoke levels are not high enough for an advisory at this time, some health impacts may be felt today including irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. You will certainly want to take it easy today if you suffer from asthma or other lung ailments. Please keep in mind that an Ozone Action Day Alert is also in effect today for the northern Front Range region (Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins, Greeley, and surrounding areas). So health impacts could be further increased in those areas.

Smoke levels could fluctuate across northeastern Colorado through Wednesday, but are not expected to get much worse than current conditions.

 

Canadian wildfire smoke possible in northeastern Colorado on Tuesday

Lighter shades of blue over North and South Dakota denote particle pollution (smoke) that may move into northeastern Colorado starting late Monday night. Image courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's AerosolWatch

Canadian wildfires made a lot of headlines last week with very heavy smoke across the eastern United States. Although Colorado is not expecting anything that bad, some smoke will be possible starting late Monday night across the northeastern corner of the state. As northeasterly winds increase, that smoke is expected to spread to the south and west. Increasing smoke will be possible by Tuesday morning across the eastern plains of Colorado (mostly along and north of Interstate 70), including Julesburg, Ft. Morgan, and Burlington. The Northern Front Range urban corridor could also have hazy skies by Tuesday morning, including Denver, Boulder, Longmont, Ft. Collins and surrounding areas.

Although we are not anticipating unhealthy levels of smoke at this time, the smoke could certainly be noticeable with poor visibility and some public health impacts. The Denver/Northern Front Range area has been contending with high ozone for the past several days. The addition of particle pollution from smoke could increase some health symptoms. This is especially true for those with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. Please take it a bit slower on Tuesday and be prepared to protect your health if air quality worsens in your area.

Air quality advisory remains in effect near the Aspen Acres fire

A smoke plume coming off the Aspen Acres fire Monday morning. Image courtesy of RAMMB/CIRA at Colorado State University

Remaining hot and dry for Monday and Tuesday at the Aspen Acres fire where an Air Quality Health Advisory remains in effect. Smoke remains a public health issue in the communities of Beulah, Colorado City, and Rye in southwestern Pueblo County. Heavy smoke in these areas is most likely during the mornings. Keep an eye on air quality monitors in this area so you can go outside at times where the smoke is not quite as heavy. 

Downwind smoke impacts will also be possible starting Monday afternoon for locations to the west of the fire. Stay alert to quickly changing air quality conditions in Westcliffe today. Some smoke may even get as far west as the San Luis Valley, including Alamosa.

One other fire that is producing periods of heavy smoke is the Willow fire in Lake County near Leadville. Smoke from this fire is mostly a problem during the mornings, particularly in southern parts of Lake County. So if you reside in the Twin Lakes area, it's likely a good idea to close your windows before you go to bed at night and limit your time outdoors during the mornings. If possible, delay outside time until the afternoons when the smoke has had time to clear.

Aspen Acres Fire once again producing large amounts of smoke

The Aspen Acres fire in southern Colorado is once again producing large amounts of smoke. Moderate to heavy concentrations of smoke are expected in areas near active portions of the fire. The heaviest impacts are expected in Custer County and southwestern portions of Pueblo County overnight Sunday and into Monday morning. An Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke has been issued for this area.

Satellite image showing the location of the Aspen Acres fire. The red dot in the center of the image indicates the most active parts of the fire. Image courtesy of CIRA/CSU/NOAA.

If smoke becomes thick in your area, take measures to protect your health.

Air quality advisories for smoke will expire on Friday, intermittent smoke will linger

Over the last couple of days the overall impacts from smoke have decreased. Areas directly near and below fires in Colorado have seen smoke settling in low lying terrain overnight and in the early mornings. However smoke has dissipated during the midday and afternoon periods. Because of these improvements, the Air Quality Health Advisories for Wildfire Smoke will be allowed to expire at 9 am on Friday.

With this said, we acknowledge that the fires continue to burn, and smoke is likely to be found in some areas at some times. Please also keep in mind that folks who have been breathing smoke for days may have lingering health impacts due to this exposure. While the improvements in air quality and the expiry of Advisories is positive and welcome news, we urge everyone to remain cautious with heavy physical exertion, and continue to be aware of changing conditions.

We will keep a close watch on weather conditions and fire activity, and will re-issue advisories if we see increases in smoke that support those alerts. Stay tuned for updated information here, and find some time to enjoy the current improvements in air quality.

Smoke impacts continue in Colorado

The wildfires in Colorado will continue to cause air quality issues in areas of Colorado. As in recent days, weather and fire activity will shift where impacts from smoke are most significant.

Two Advisories remain in effect on Thursday and into Friday morning covering areas near the Gold Mountain and Elk Fires in southwest Colorado, and the Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo County. 

Out west, smoke affects several communities. The heaviest impacts are in Ouray, San Juan, and Hinsdale Counties. In particular, smoke drains into valleys and low lying terrain during overnight hours spiking concentrations in Lake City, Ouray, Ridgeway, Colona, and Cimmaron. Notable impacts have also been seen in surrounding areas including Montrose, Telluride, Ouray, and others. These areas have shown more variability in the concentration and duration of smoke. Thunderstorms will again be possible on Thursday and can produce gusty and erratic winds that can cause smoke to move rapidly in unpredictable directions.

Near the Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo County, significant amounts of smoke have been experienced in the communities of Beulah and Rye, along with areas on the south and west sides of this fire. Folks in southwestern Pueblo County should keep alert to conditions in their area and remain prepared to respond to smoky conditions to reduce potential health impacts.

Map showing active wildfire incidents in Colorado reported by InciWeb.

While the above mentioned incidents are those that are under Advisories, other fires in Colorado should not be ignored. The Willow Fire in Lake County, the Fishhook Fire in Routt County, and the Ferris Fire in Dolores County are still burning and have potential to create air quality concerns. We continue to watch all areas closely and will issue further alerts and communication if they become needed.

Throughout Colorado, we encourage everyone to stay alert, stay safe, and stay tuned for more updates.

Advisory on the Gold Mountain and Elk fires expanded for Wednesday

Smoke from the Gold Mountain and Elk wildfires in southwestern Colorado. Satellite image courtesy of slider.cira.colostate.edu

It was an active day for a few of the wildfires in southwestern Colorado on Tuesday. The Gold Mountain fire in Ouray County was impacted by heavy thunderstorms. The thunderstorms sent smoke in chaotic, unpredictable directions.  The towns of Ouray and Telluride both got hit by smoke plumes Tuesday afternoon and evening. Meanwhile the Elk fire largely avoided thunderstorms, but did made a significant "run" which increased its size. Smoke from the Elk fire directly impacted the Lake City area with very heavy smoke late Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Thunderstorms will once again be possible over both of these fires on Wednesday. Additionally, the prevailing transport winds on Wednesday will push smoke in a general north to south direction. With all of this information, the air quality health advisory has been expanded to includes areas to the south of the fires. This will include Hinsdale, San Juan, and eastern San Miguel counties. Heads up to rapidly changing air quality conditions on Wednesday in Telluride, Silverton, and Lake City. Please be prepared to protect your health from wildfire smoke.

In addition to these areas south of the fires, to the north we continue to see heavy smoke draining from the fires during the morning hours. Highway 550 from Ridgway northward to Montrose and even as far north as Delta will continue to receive this morning dose of smoke. If possible, hold off on spending time outside in these areas until the afternoon when the smoke has had time to clear.

Meanwhile, the Aspen Acres fire in Pueblo County has seen a slight decrease in fire activity. Air quality is not quite as bad Wednesday morning in the communities of Colorado City and Rye in southwestern Pueblo County. However, this fire continues to have the potential to intensify again. The air quality health advisory will remain in effect for southwestern Pueblo County for the time being.

Other fires we are watching include the Fishhook fire in Routt County to the southeast of Steamboat Springs, the Willow fire in Lake County near Leadville, and the Ferris fire in Dolores County. None of these fires at the moment are producing the type of heavy, long duration smoke that would trigger an advisory. However, any of these fires have the capability of producing brief periods of heavy smoke. Please remain alert to the potential for air quality to change quickly.

Smoke continues Tuesday

Smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire and Aspen Acres Fire will continue to impact Colorado today. Air Quality Health Advisories remain in effect near the Aspen Acres Fire and Gold Mountain Fire.

Aspen Acres Fire 

Beulah is finally getting a break. Smoke cleared out Monday evening, and folks woke up to Good air quality this morning. This isn't the end of smoke for Beulah- smoke is likely to pool in the valley again tonight. An Air Quality Health Advisory is still in effect for southwest Pueblo County. Rye, Colorado City, and Beulah will see moderate to heavy smoke throughout Tuesday through Wednesday morning.

Gold Mountain Fire

Smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire continues to pool along Highway 550. On Monday afternoon, thunderstorms cleared some of the smoke. However, moderate to heavy smoke is still possible today. Locations along Highway 550, as far north as Delta, are likely to see smoke today. Additionally, this fire is spreading northward, so locations along Highway 50 may also start to see smoke. We are monitoring this fire and will update the blog if the situation changes.

Fishhook Fire

We are also monitoring the Fishhook Fire in Routt County. Folks near the fire may notice haze and moderate smoke. We are tracking changes and will issue an Air Quality Health Advisory if the smoke worsens.

Willow Fire

Smoke from the Willow Fire continues for south-central Colorado. Twin Lakes saw heavy smoke this morning, but smoke is expected to clear this afternoon. Light to moderate smoke is possible in Leadville, Twin Lakes, and Buena Vista today.

Smoke persists in areas near wildfires

There are still several wildfires burning in Colorado as the hot and dry weather conditions continue for the start of the week. One of those fires is the Aspen Acres fire which is producing heavy smoke impacts in the southwestern part of Pueblo County. 

The Aspen Acres fire shaded in dark red with surrounding air quality monitors (circles) indicating moderate to heavy smoke. Map courtesy of fire.airnow.gov

A few communites are receiving moderate to very heavy smoke at times from the Aspen Acres fire. These include Beulah, Rye and Colorado City. Expect smoke to be at its worst during the morning hours in these areas.

The Gold Mountain fire is located in Ouray County east of Highway 550 between Ouray and Ridgway. This fire has gradually spread to the east over the past few days with heavy morning smoke impacts to the northwest of the fire. Expect moderate to heavy smoke between Ridgway and Montrose during the mornings, including the communities of Eldredge, Colona, and Vernal. The newer Elk fire just to the north of the Gold Mountain fire could contribute additional smoke to these same areas over the next 24 hours.

There are several other fires around the state, including the Willow fire near Leadville, Fishhook fire near Steamboat Springs, and the Ferris fire in Dolores County. Although there are no current advisories in the vicinity of these fires, conditions can change rapidly so please remain on the alert to the air quality in your area. Also be aware that record breaking heat is possible across Colorado early this week, so please take action to protect your health from extreme heat. This is especially true if you are also in an area where air quality is a concern.

Sunday smoke update

 The Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires are still the focus for today's smoke.

Near the Aspen Acres Fire, an Air Quality Health Advisory is in effect for southwest Pueblo County. Today will be similar to yesterday. Air Quality is expected to remain Good in the City of Pueblo, but smoke will remain heavy for Beulah, Rye, and Colorado City.

The situation has changed slightly near the Gold Mountain Fire. The wind direction is expected to shift today, coming out of the south. Because of this wind shift, the advisory area has changed. Yesterday, heavy smoke was expected south of the fire, in San Juan and Hinsdale Counties. Today, the advisory only remains active in Montrose and Ouray Counties. Smoke will likely only impact areas close to the fire, and north of the fire.

Visit the AirNow Fire and Smoke map for real-time air quality data near you.

Smoke sticking around Saturday, but some see relief

 Air Quality Health Advisories are in effect until at least Sunday morning. But today, the heaviest smoke will be near the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires.

Smoke from the Aspen Acres Fire will mostly affect southwestern Pueblo County. Rye, Colorado City, and Beulah will see moderate to heavy smoke today. Overnight Saturday, heavy smoke is possible in Beulah. However, the city of Pueblo is getting some relief. Haze is visible in Pueblo this morning, but smoke is expected to stay in the upper atmosphere. 

Smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire is pooled along the Highway 550 corridor. Folks Montrose, Ridgway, Ouray, and Silverton woke up to heavy smoke this morning. In Hinsdale County, Lake City also had heavy smoke this morning. In these areas, moderate to heavy smoke is possible on Saturday and will last until at least Sunday morning. 

We are monitoring the situation for any changes today. Stay tuned to the blog for an update Sunday morning.

Friday smoke outlook

Two Air Quality Health Advisories remain in effect today. The biggest change today is that we've removed Fremont County from the advisory area. Otherwise, the advisory remains in effect until at least Saturday morning. 

This week, Colorado has gotten some rain, which has helped keep the fires from spreading. This weekend, a ridge of high pressure is moving in, bringing warm and dry weather to the state. Stay tuned to the blog for smoke updates throughout the weekend.

If there is smoke in your area, reduce your exposure and limit your activity. Also over the weekend, heat is a major factor in the forecast. Check the CDC's Heat Risk Map for information on your county's heat risk.

Local smoke impacts continue on Thursday

Fortunately there are no Red Flag Warnings currently in effect across Colorado. Last week the wildfires exploded due to the hot, dry, and windy conditions which also transported smoke long distances across the state. The current situation is different: hot temperatures, less wind, and more afternoon thunderstorms. The heavy smoke focus has shifted to areas in close vicinity to the fires.

Starting with the Willow fire in Lake County near Leadville, the short-term news is encouraging. Afternoon thunderstorms with plenty of cloud cover has decreased fire activity and smoke production. Air quality is either good or moderate this morning in Leadville southward to the Twin Lakes area. The air quality advisory for Lake County will be allowed to expire at 9am Thursday. However, it should be noted that the fire is neither contained or out yet. This means that conditions could deteriorate again, particuarly for the upcoming weekend as the weather heats up and dries out again. Stay tuned if you reside or will be travelling to the Leadville/Twin Lakes area this weekend.

The Aspen Acres fire remains active near the Pueblo/Custer county line and has produced heavy smoke for nearby areas. The town of Beulah has been particularly hard hit, and there is anticipation that the southern end of the fire could become more active in the next few days. Residents in Rye and Colorado City should prepare for worsening air quality conditions. An air quality health advisory will remain active for this area through at least Friday morning.

Heading to the southwestern part of the state, the Gold Mountain fire and the Ferris fire are both producing local impacts. Some of the heaviest smoke around the state Thursday morning is in areas to the north of the Gold Mountain fire in northern Ouray County and spreading into eastern Montrose County. The town of Montrose has been blanketed with smoke recently. Fortunately some relief did arrive yesterday, but it appears that there will still be some lingering smoke around during the mornings as long as the Gold Mountain fire remains active. This will also be the case for communities along Highway 550 south of Montrose to Ridgway Reservoir, including Eldredge, Colona, and Vernal.

Moderate to heavy smoke can also be expected near the Ferris fire, though fortunately it appears most of the heavy morning smoke is draining straight into McPhee Reservoir which minimizes public health impacts. Keep in mind that downwind smoke impacts will be possible to the east and southeast of both the Gold Mountain and Ferris fires Thursday afternoon and evening, so remain alert to rapidly changing air quality conditions today in Telluride, Silverton, and Lake City. An air quality health advisory will remain in effect through at least Friday morning for all of these areas in southwestern Colorado.

Hazy skies to the southwest of Pueblo Memorial Airport due to smoke from the Aspen Acres fire. Image courtesy of FAA Weathercams

Wednesday weather: changes coming for Colorado

After days of stagnant, smoky, dry conditions, changes are coming. By Wednesday afternoon, thunderstorms will develop across Colorado. Rain will help limit fire growth, and wind may help clear smoke from the air. Also, a shift in the upper level winds will decrease the amount of smoke that is transported to areas further away from the fires.

Air Quality Health Advisories remain in effect until at least Thursday morning. However, smoke is not expected to travel as far on Wednesday, and fewer areas are included in today's advisories. Only the counties closest to the fires are included. Moderate to heavy smoke is still possible in advisory areas. If smoke is heavy in your area, it's good to limit your exposure and take precautions to protect your health.

Air quality advisories are in effect, but for a much smaller area than yesterday.

Smoke still on tap for Tuesday

 Another smoky day is on tap for much of the state, and an Air Quality Health Advisory is in effect for several counties. 

What's new today? 

Eagle County and Pitkin County are now included in the advisory area. Folks in Aspen, Woody Creek, Basalt, Eagle, and Vail woke up to hazy skies and smoke. 

Hazy skies at the Aspen/ Pitkin County Airport Tuesday morning. Image courtesy: FAA Weathercams.

What's staying the same today? 

The rest of the advisory area remains the same. Moderate to heavy smoke is still possible throughout the advisory area through at least Wednesday morning.

What's coming next? 

There is a chance of rain in Colorado's future. Thunderstorms are possible in western and central Colorado, starting Tuesday evening. Rain from these storms could slow fire growth, helping fire crews contain the blazes.

However, we aren't completely in the clear just yet. Lightning from these storms could spark new fires. CDPHE meteorologists are tracking these storms and watching for new fire starts. 

For today, smoke will linger across much of the state. Stay tuned for an update by Wednesday morning.

GOES-19 visible satellite image shows smoke lingering over much of Colorado. Image courtesy: RAMMB CIRA Slider.

If smoke is heavy in your area, take steps to reduce your exposure and protect your health. For real-time air quality data near you, visit AirNow's Fire and Smoke website. 

Fires and smoke continue this week with additional factors to consider

The wildfires burning in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona (among others) were again active over the weekend, and will remain a concern this week. Air Quality Health Advisories for Wildfire Smoke will continue. While smoke production, transport, and its impact on public health is our main focus, it is not the only factor that we will contend with this week.

Last week was filled with Red Flag warnings and persistent high winds that allowed fires to grow to the size we now see. This week will have different elements to consider. Over the next several days we will see an increase in moisture in our region, and also an increase in temperature.

Weather Story graphic from the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, CO indicating potential for influence from lightning, gusty winds, and high temperatures on Monday, July 6th, 2026.

More moisture in the atmosphere means that chances for storms will increase through midweek in many locations. This sounds encouraging, however this may not deliver the overall relief that we would like to see. On Monday storms are favored in southwestern and central Colorado, possibly having an influence on he Ferris Fire, or perhaps the Gold Mountain Fire. These will likely remain isolated and scattered, with limited chance for beneficial wetting rain. 

Tuesday and Wednesday see similar activity in the western half of the state, with better likelihood for more widespread and vigorous storms over the eastern Rockies and along the Front Range. This may influence the Aspen Acres Fire.

We sincerely hope that well-placed rainfall will help in fire suppression efforts and reduce fire intensity. However we must remain aware that thunderstorms also produce lightning and gusty winds- factors that hold concern for new starts, invigoration of fire activity, and unpredictable movement of smoke. Please keep this in mind; hope for rain but remain weary of potential negative outcomes.

Another compounding factor for both fire behavior and public health is the heat. A ridge of high pressure will be over the region, meaning that many locations will see high temps in the 90s for most of the week. Health impacts due to heat stress alone can be worrisome, and when combined with poor air quality, concerns are heightened. Please stay hydrated and cool to the best of your ability. Remain indoors and reduce exertion if possible, and be prepared to take action to counter negative health effects from these conditions, especially if you are predisposed to these impacts.

We will continue with updates and Advisories, aiming to help inform you of the most likely areas impacted by smoke, but we urge folks in all areas of Colorado to stay informed and stay safe from all potential health impacts.

Smoke impacts will continue on Sunday and Monday for many areas of Colorado

Wildfires in Colorado and neighboring states will continue to produce significant amounts of smoke, degrading air quality conditions in large areas of central, southern, and southwestern Colorado on Sunday. Weather conditions will remain hot and dry over most of the state, with scattered storms possible for a few areas. This means that fires will likely have another active day on Sunday, with smoke impacts continuing into the workweek.

In early frames of visible satellite imagery, smoke can be seen covering much of our state. Many mountain valleys saw increased impacts on Sunday morning due to smoke settling overnight. Areas further from the fires' locations have seen more widely varying concentrations as daytime mixing of the atmosphere and transport winds interact.

Satellite image of Colorado showing smoke from several wildfires blanketing large areas of central, southern, and southwestern Colorado. Image courtesy CIRA/CSU. 

The Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke has been extended through Monday morning. Clearly the areas in close proximity to fires will continue to see the heaviest smoke, yet we also want folks throughout the Advisory area to remain aware that impacts will remain possible at different times each day, with potential for rapidly changing conditions.

We encourage everyone to remain aware of particulate concentrations in your area, finding times to engage in daily activity during periods when smoke levels may be less harmful, but being ready to reduce activity, move indoors, and take actions to reduce exposure and health impacts when necessary.

A mixed bag for Colorado air quality for the 4th of July holiday

Wildfire smoke will remain a health concern, unfortunately, for many parts of Colorado during the 4th of July holiday. However, for some locations the air quality is improving. Let's break it down.

We will start with the areas of concern. The newest Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke stretches across southern parts of Colorado from the Four Corners region in southwest Colorado, eastward to the Pueblo area. This is due to continued smoke from the Babylon fire, the Ferris fire, the Gold Mountain fire, the Aspen Acres fire and the Willow fire. All of these fires are capable of producing massive amounts of smoke and could impact areas downwind (to the east of the fires). Outdoor plans for the 4th should take this into account in Montrose, Gunnison, Silverton, Lake City, Saguache, Alamosa, Salida, Pueblo, and surrounding areas. Also keep in mind that afternoon thunderstorms with gusty and erratic winds could push smoke in unpredictable directions Saturday afternoon and evening, particuarly near the Aspen Acres fire in Custer and Pueblo counties.

There is some good news to report. Areas further to the north which were blanketed with smoke during much of the workweek are seeing some relief. Expect an improvement in air quality today in Grand Junction, Aspen, and Colorado Springs. But please be mindful that the recent prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can have lingering health impacts. 

Hazy skies Saturday morning looking west from Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, courtesy of FAA weathercams.

Another smoky day on Friday, but gradual changes heading into the holiday weekend

The National Weather Service has again issued Red Flag Warnings for all of the big fires in Colorado on Friday. This means that we are again expecting active fire conditions and very heavy smoke production. The Air Quality Health Advisory has been extended through at least 9am on Saturday. However, there have been some changes to the advisory footprint.  Northern counties (Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt, and Jackson) have been removed as air quality has improved and any additional smoke later today should be rather light. So looking better to spend some time outdoors today in Steamboat Springs, Meeker, and up around Dinosaur National Monument.

Conversely, a few counties have been added to the advisory today. These include Crowley and Otero counties on the eastern plains of southeastern Colorado which could see some downwind impacts today from the Aspen Acres fire. So please be prepared for a possible rapid increase in smoke around Ordway and La Junta Friday afternoon and evening. And it is also likely to remain a smoky day in other parts of southern and western Colorado, including Montrose, Gunnison, Salida, and Pueblo. Please take care to protect your health and please check CDPHE's CDPHE Wildfire Smoke Preparedness Program webpage for tips on how to maintain the air quality in your house, even if you don't have central air conditioning.

The reason we made these slight changes to the advisory is that the transport winds over the fires are starting to shift from southwesterly, to a bit more westerly. This accounts for less smoke in northern Colorado today, and likely some gradual improvement for central parts of the state as well.  The Intersate 70 corridor between Grand Junction and Denver has been socked in by smoke for several days now, including this morning.  However with the wind shift at the fires, we are anticipating less smoke to hit these areas Friday afternoon and evening. So it appears there could be some light at the end of that smoky tunnel in places like Glenwood Springs, Edwards, Vail, Breckenridge, and Idaho Springs. However, please continue to take it slow today. Breathing heavy smoke for an extended period of time can have lingering health impacts. So even after the smoke clears out, you may want to wait 12-24 hours to return to heavy exertion activities/exercise. This is especially true if you have heart or lung disease, including asthma.

Smoke Impacts to continue on Thursday and Friday

Active fires in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona will continue to produce smoke that will impact air quality in the Centennial State on Thursday and Friday.

The Ferris Fire, Gold Mountain Fire, and the Willow Fire are the biggest factors in smoke production on the Western Slope of Colorado, and with the addition of smoke from fires in other states, significant degradation of air quality will continue in many areas.

The Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo County also remains active and is contributing to poor air quality in areas along the Front Range and the neighboring plains. Air Quality Health Advisories for Wildfire Smoke remain in effect for much of the state. The northern Front Range remains under an Action Day for Multiple Pollutants due to concerns from ozone and particulate (smoke) pollution.

Map showing Air Quality Advisories (in gray) and Action Days (in purple) in effect throughout Colorado on Thursday and Friday. Map from colorado.gov/airquality

Hot and dry weather remains in the forecast over the next several days, so these alerts are likely to continue as we head into the weekend. Shifts in the weather pattern may alter the areas that are affected by smoke, so stay tuned to updates as weather, fire behavior, and smoke production and transport may change over the next few days.

Reducing heavy exertion, particularly when outdoors and for folks who have conditions that make them sensitive to air pollution, can help to reduce health impacts from exposure to poor air quality. 

Information on all air quality alerts and ways to protect your health can be found on the CPDHE website using the links on this page. Updates will continue to be provided here as well in our efforts to keep you informed.

Wednesday Smoke Outlook

Another smoky day is on the horizon for many Coloradans. Several wildfires continue to burn in Colorado and neighboring states, and smoke is expected to stick around through at least Thursday morning.

GOES-19 visible satellite image shows a large plume of smoke over Colorado. Smoke is expected to continue for many counties on Wednesday. Image courtesy of RAMMB CIRA Slider.

Not much has changed on the Western Slope since Tuesday morning. The Ferris Fire, Gold Mountain Fire, and Snyder Mesa Fire continue to burn, and moderate to heavy smoke is possible through at least Thursday morning. The Air Quality Health Advisory remains in effect until 9 am Thursday. 

In eastern Colorado, the Aspen Acres Fire just southwest of Pueblo is still producing heavy smoke. Particulate Matter concentrations are especially high in Pueblo, Canon City, Cripple Creek, and Woodland Park. Moderate to heavy smoke is possible through at least Thursday morning. 

 However, there are some changes to note. Smoke is not expected to reach as far north today, so the Air Quality Health Advisory has been updated to remove Washington, Lincoln, and Morgan Counties. 

In the Northern Front Range, an Action Day for Multiple Pollutants is in effect until at least 4 pm today. As of Wednesday morning, the heaviest smoke is in the foothills, particularly in Jefferson and Douglas Counties. This includes Evergreen, Aspen Park, and Roxborough Park. In the Front Range, Particulate Matter and Ozone could both reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category today.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect today for southeastern Utah and western Colorado. Dry, windy weather is on tap for Wednesday, so existing fires may grow, and new fires may spark. For real-time air quality information near you, visit the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.

We are monitoring the smoke and will provide updates as the situation develops.