Air Quality Health Advisory for wildfire smoke continues

The Advisory for wildfire smoke will continue Thursday into Friday with changes to its footprint. The shifting regional weather pattern along with showers and thunderstorms have altered the transport of smoke coming into Colorado. This will continue to affect air quality conditions during the current forecast period. This may provide temporary reprieve for some locations within the forecast area, but all areas covered by the Advisory should continue to prepare for rapid increases in smoke concentrations.

Transport winds pushed smoke further north on Wednesday night, and smoke is now affecting areas of northwestern Colorado that were not heavily impacted before. As the weather pattern continues to shift on Thursday, smoke may move into areas in the central mountains. While the smoke already in Colorado moves about, more smoke will be produced and head our way. Red Flag conditions remain in effect for much of the desert southwest, and active fire behavior is remains possible today, producing a new batch of smoke headed towards western Colorado. All of this creates a smoky game of whack-a-mole that we all get to play. Please note the changes in which Colorado counties are covered by the Advisory due to these ever-evolving factors.

Webcam image from Walton Peak, south of Steamboat Springs, CO shows a mix of clouds and smoke on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Image courtesy of FAA WeatherCams.

The outlook has remained highly variable this week. We work hard to consider all the complexity that is involved, and keep you informed of our expectations. This means that some locations will see greater impacts than others, and many at different times. We strive to provide useful and timely information, always prioritizing protection of public health.

Please remain aware of changing conditions in your area and take the most appropriate precautions to reduce health impacts from the smoke, and we will keep you informed of our expectations.